Think it’s the right move
The prospect of a drier track at Newcastle on Monday is very much in the favour of leading G1 Tancred S. winner Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}), according to trainer Kerry Parker.
Parker said that he was close to withdrawing Think It Over during Saturday's downpour at Rosehill, but had that call made for him when the meeting was called off.
Going to Newcastle suits the Kembla Grange trainer just fine.
Think It Over | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It’s probably going to be the driest track around the Sydney area and certainly a lot less water logged than what we would have faced in Sydney,” Parker told Racenet.
“Think It Over is just better on top of the ground and you only get a select few that really love that sort of track anyway.
“You look at his form and it tells you he handles the Soft a lot better than the Heavy so I am tipping the move to Newcastle will make a big difference.”
Newnham on the money
Money From The Sky’s (Frankel {GB}) chances of backing up in Saturday’s G1 ATC Derby, now the G2 Tulloch S. has been moved to Newcastle on Monday, are even better now according to trainer Mark Newnham.
The possibility of a Soft track at Newcastle has Newnham thinking the powerful 3-year-old can thrive off the short back-up into Saturday's race.
“I think, if anything, the better surface at Newcastle will help Money From The Sky going towards the Derby,’’ Newnham told News Corp.
Mark Newnham | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“If we had run the race on Saturday it would have been unlikely a horse would have pulled up well enough to back up a week later.’’
Money From The Sky is coming off a maiden win at Goulburn last start.
“A start in the Derby all depends on how he goes at Newcastle, he has to show he is up to it,’’ Newnham said.
“He’s a big, strong young horse and I’m sure he will pull up well but we just have to get him to run to his ability.’’
Inglis Easter Yearling Sale preview
Monday night on Sky Thoroughbred Central (Foxtel Channel 528), Caroline Searcy profiles elite thoroughbred offerings from Australia’s leading stud farms such as Arrowfield Stud, Coolmore Stud, Cressfield, Kitchwin Hills, Newgate Farm, Tyreel Stud, Vinery Stud, Widden Stud and Yarraman Park.
The preview features yearlings by leading sires, Written Tycoon, Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Fastnet Rock, Zoustar and more along with exciting new stallions such as The Autumn Sun and Justify (USA).
The 90-minute Easter extravaganza includes full relations to Group 1 winners such as Sunlight (Zoustar), Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Lost And Running (Per Incanto {USA}) and half-brothers and sisters to the likes of Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), recent G3 Pago Pago S. winner Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution), last year’s $2.1 million yearling, the already stakes-placed Nobel (Exceed And Excel) and many more bluebloods of Australian and international racing and breeding.
Debut success for Botany
Well-bred filly Botany (American Pharoah {USA}) delivered an impressive, albeit narrow debut win at Bairnsdale for her Coolmore-led ownership group and trainer Peter Moody.
Botany, a $150,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Moody in 2020, started odds-on favourite, but looked out of luck when searching for a run in the straight.
Botany as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
However, Carleen Hefel's patience in the saddle paid off and the 3-year-old powered home to edge out Barclay's Bank (More Than Ready {USA}) in the 1200-metre maiden.
She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Believe Yourself (Sebring), with her grandam the Group 1 winner Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).
She is the 15th Australian winner this season for Coolmore's American Pharoah (USA).
Prairie Flower breaks through
The Henry Dwyer-trained Prairie Flower become the second winner from Star Turn's second crop with victory at Ballarat on Sunday.
The filly, a $120,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale purchase, was having her third start in the 1100-metre maiden and proved too strong for Cannon (Written Tycoon), beating the colt by 0.75l, with another 0.3l to the race favourite, Gulf Of Lion (Thronum) in third.
She joins Pomade as a winner from the second crop of the Vinery Stud stallion, who has also had 26 winners from his first crop in Australia this season.
Alderson receives Lady of Racing Award
Trainer Cindy Alderson has been awarded the 2022 Victorian Wakeful Club Lady of Racing.
The Cranbourne-based trainer was recognised alongside fellow finalists Lisa Coffey, Lyn Shand and Dr Emma Nicol.
“It was a bit of a thrill and a shock,” Alderson admitted.
“The transformation over the last five to 10 years (for women) has been amazing.
Cindy Alderson
“When I started out there was virtually no lady trainers, no lady jockeys and now I don’t think it will be long until we take it over.
“The thing I love about the racing industry and women is that we can compete on an equal playing field.
“We don’t have to ask for a handicap and I think we are recognised for our skills and talents, as are the boys as well, and I think that’s a fabulous place to be.”
Wellington moved to Tuesday
Sunday's Wellington race meeting has been postponed until Tuesday.
A track inspection by Racing NSW stewards and jockeys determined that the track was unsuitable for racing with rain continuing to fall.
The meeting, which contained the $200,000 Wellington Boot, has now moved back two days with fields remaining unchanged with all scratchings to be reinstated.
Newcastle switch a positive for Baker
Murray Baker has backed the decision to move Saturday's Rosehill races to Newcastle on Monday.
Baker and Andrew Forsman have three runners which have had to make the venue switch, with 3-year-old stablemates Regal Lion (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) and White Noise (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) to now contest the G2 Tulloch S. on Monday, while The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) will campaign in the G1 Tancred S.
“I think they made the only decision they could on Saturday as the track looked pretty bad when they had the downpour during Race 2,” Baker said.
Murray Baker | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“We were committed to race on Saturday no matter what as all of our team need to get a run into them with what they have coming up.
“As it turned out, it was probably the best result as Marroni went a cheeky race and it will bring him on as he was the one of the four that most needed it.
“I think Newcastle will help all three of them as it is a big, long straight and by all accounts the track will be better than the Heavy one they would have struck on Saturday,” he said.
Stablemates up for stakes clash
Stablemates Defiant (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Kikimora (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) will clash again in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne S. at Riccarton in May having produced a quinella in a sprint race at the same track on Saturday.
Local trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong have a clear plan for the 2-year-olds after they fought out the finish in a 1000-metre race on Saturday.
“Their grand final is likely to be in the stakes race at Riccarton in early May,” Furlong said.
Defiant (NZ) leads home stablemate Kikimora (NZ) (white cap) at Riccarton | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“Given they are just babies you don’t want to put too much pressure on them, so they can have an easy time until closer to that race.
“I think the next 2-year-old race locally is on the 23rd of April so one or both of them might have a lead-up run then but it will all depend on how they come through this one.”
