Home Affairs to bypass TJ Smith
Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) will bypass next month’s G1 TJ Smith S. and instead be readied for an overseas trip which is set to include June’s Royal Ascot carnival.
The Coolmore-owned colt’s trainer Chris Waller revealed that Home Affairs had pulled up with tightness following his lacklustre showing in the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington.
Home Affairs | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Home Affairs has pulled up bright and well following the Newmarket H. however does have some tightness across his back and hindquarters,” a Chris Waller Racing statement read.
“We have therefore made the decision that rather than running in the TJ Smith, he will have a quiet time over the next two weeks while we concentrate on a Northern Hemisphere campaign including Royal Ascot."
Vale Zipping
Multiple Group 1 winner Zipping (Danehill {USA}) has died aged 20 after suffering an ‘irreparable leg fracture’ in his paddock at Living Legends.
Zipping, who was trained by Bradley Marzato, Graeme Rogerson, John Sadler and Robert Hickmott during his 47-start career, ran fourth in three G1 Melbourne Cups, was placed in three G1 Cox Plates and won four consecutive G2 Sandown Classics from 2007, with the race since renamed the Zipping Classic.
Moroney confirms Tofane’s likely swansong
Next month’s G1 All Aged S. at Randwick is likely to mark four-time Group 1 heroine Tofane’s (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) final career start.
The Rupert Legh-owned mare failed to produce her brilliant best when ridden conservatively in last Saturday’s The All-Star Mile at Flemington and finished 5.3l eighth behind emphatic winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
Tofane (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“It’s hard to get a real line on her but I’d say we are treading now we will head towards the All Aged as her last run,” Moroney told Racing.com.
Another winner for Sooboog
Kitchwin Hills' stallion Sooboog brought up his 16th winner for the season via Hongbao’s narrow maiden victory at Geelong on Tuesday.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained and Roll The Dice Racing-owned Hongbao nosed out the Julius Sandhu-trained The Hass (Ajaya {GB}) to score by 0.1l with a 4l gap back to the Godolphin-owned Bidaya (Reset) in third.
Eighth winner for Vadamos
Young Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos (Fr) notched his eighth Australian winner this season by the way of Smiling Amos’ (NZ) debut victory at Geelong on Tuesday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained gelding finished 0.5l the better of the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Topeka (Headwater) while Angel Of Light (Adelaide {Ire}) rounded out the minors.
Vadamos, who is currently tied with Territories (Ire) on the second-season sires' standings by winners, is responsible for the quality Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Rhinoceros (NZ).
Baker backs in She’s Ideel
Bjorn Baker is backing She’s Ideel (Dundeel {NZ}) to bounce back off an average run in the G1 Australian Cup and be one of the key contenders in Saturday’s G1 Tancred S. at Rosehill.
The Warwick Farm-based horseman said the 6-year-old had come through her 10th-placed performance in good order, saying that she galloped ‘brilliantly’ on Tuesday morning.
She's Ideel | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“With the prospect of rain and 2400 metres, it suits her well and she ran second in the race last year. I think we can put a line through the Australian Cup when the race never worked out for her so I’m definitely looking forward to Saturday at Rosehill,” Baker told Racenet.
“She didn’t get warmed up at all last start and I think it will be a different ball game come Saturday.”
Pannell set for stint on the sidelines
Reigning South Australian Jockeys’ Premiership winner Todd Pannell will face an extended period on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone in a fall at trackwork on Tuesday morning.
“It's definitely a broken collar bone, we're just awaiting the latest to determine if he'll require surgery or not," Pannell’s manager Melissa Shield said.
"There is a never a good time for an injury like this, especially coming into the carnival. He's probably looking at up to eight weeks on the sidelines.”
Kemalpasa on the cusp of glory
Richard Jolly believes Kemalpasa (Magnus) is on the cusp of Group 1 glory ahead of his tilt at Friday night’s G1 William Reid S. at Moonee Valley.
Jolly, who trains the multiple Group-winning sprinter in partnership with his daughter Chantelle, said last year’s G1 Oakleigh Plate third placegetter has overcome a minor foot issue that ruled him out of the G1 Newmarket H.
Kemalpasa | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He’s on the cusp of a Group 1 win. He’s won over a million bucks now so he’s been a good horse to us but to win a Group 1 race would really cap it off,” Jolly told Racenet.
“Whether it’s this one or something further down the track, it remains to be seen but we’ll just keep trying. We’d like to think he’s got a Group 1 in him before he gets too old.”
Newitt forecasts joy for Jonker
Craig Newitt believes Jonker (Spirit Of Boom) has what it takes to make his presence felt in Friday night’s G1 William Reid S. after his first sit aboard the G1 Manikato S. hero on Monday morning.
The multiple Group 1-winning hoop said the Tony Gollan-trained entire is trending in the right direction ahead of the sprint feature and that a pen should be put through his last placed performance on resumption in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Jonker, winner of the 2021 G1 Manikato S. | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"I thought he worked really well, he's just your typical bull, big, strong, tough-looking guy. He bowled along, his work was good over a half-mile and he was really strong through the line,” Newitt told Racing.com.
"I think with Marabi looking a standout, it looks an even race after that. So, I'm sure if he recaptures that form he'll be in the finish."
Goddess gearing up for Oaks
While David Vandyke is confident Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) will handle her biggest test to date in Saturday’s G1 Vinery Stud S. at Rosehill he has cautioned that next month’s G1 Australian Oaks remains the race she is being set to peak for.
The unbeaten filly, who extended her record to five wins when winning by 3.5l on resumption at Eagle Farm on March 12 will be ridden by William Pike in both the Vinery and Oaks.
Gypsy Goddess (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“Everything has been geared up towards the (Australian) Oaks and the Vinery is in a great position as a lead-up and I am sure she will run well, but the Oaks is our grand final and that is what everything has been aimed towards,” Vandyke told SENTrack.
“If she gets back and has to give them a bit of a start, I don’t think there is too much of a problem with that providing she has got clear running up the straight.”
Wolverine on track for Sires’
Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) showed she is on target for Saturday week’s G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. at Awapuni following her effortless trial win at Otaki on Tuesday.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned juvenile travelled much further than the outlined 1000-metres, with jockey Robbie Hannam keeping the filly to the middle of the track from the 600-metre mark and despite covering extra ground, she ran away to a comfortable 2l win.
“She trialled up super, I couldn’t be happier with her. She was pretty fit heading into it, she won a jump-out last week at Levin by four lengths,” Wolverine’s trainer Roydon Bergerson said.
“She didn’t have much opposition today, but she did it pretty easily. She has pulled up super, she was bucking in the birdcage.”
OBS April catalogue online
A total of 1231 2-year-olds in training have been catalogued for the Ocala Breeders Sales Company's Spring Sale, to be held Tuesday through Friday, April 19-22 at the auction house's Central Florida complex.
Gracing the cover of the 2022 catalogue is Corniche (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), who topped last year's renewal and who went on to cap an undefeated championship season with a victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.
