Star mare to sign off in All Aged
Four-time Group 1-winning mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will run her last race in Saturday’s G1 All Aged S. at Randwick.
Trainer Mike Moroney told TDN AusNZ that Tofane will be sold as part of the Newgate Consignment at the 2022 Magic Milllions National Broodmare Sale in May.
“I’m feeling a bit more pressure than normal, knowing that this it is her final race,” he said.
“She’s such a valuable commodity; I suppose it will be a bit of a relief getting her through it.”
Tofane (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli
The 6-year-old has raced 29 times, for eight wins and eight minor placings, netting $3.5 million in prizemoney.
Her four victories in top company are the 2020 All Aged S., the Stradbroke H. and Tattersall’s Tiara in 2021, and this year’s CF Orr S.
“She’s been a top-class mare and done a great job,” he added.
“She’s done it in three states and both ways of going.”
Rising star expands operation
Multiple Group 1-winning trainer Annabel Neasham will set up a satellite stable at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
Neasham won the G2 Hollindale S. at the track last year with stable star Zaaki (GB)(Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
Annabel Neasham
Neasham, who currently trains at Warwick Farm in New South Wales, will launch a three-pronged attack on Saturday’s All Aged S. at Randwick, headed by two-time Group 1 hero Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel).
Racing Queensland to offer trainers flood relief payments
Racing Queensland will provide further payments to eligible recipients of the Training Assistance Fund, it announced Thursday.
Racing Minister Grace Grace last month announced $500,000 in flood relief through the Training Assistance Fund to support the Queensland racing industry.
Approved first-round recipients will now receive an additional second payment to assist with the ongoing costs caused from the floods.
Rawiller’s Queen Elizabeth fine reduced
Nash Rawiller’s two-week ban for excessive whip use during the Queen Elizabeth S. remains, but the star jockey has had his fine reduced from $40,000 to $30,000.
Thank It Over and Nash Rawiller winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Rawiller appealed the severity of Racing New South Wales stewards’ penalties after he was slapped with the sanctions following his incredible ride to win last Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}).
Bott hoping rains stays away
Adrian Bott is wary of a wet track for In The Congo (Snitzel) and Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) in Saturday’s G1 All Aged S. at Randwick.
“The overnight rain we got, we probably didn't need it for either runner as we are hoping to see it in the softer race,” said Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
“The faster the track for us, the better, particularly for Shout The Bar. She is alright in soft but we just can’t have it too heavy.”
Star Kiwi mare chases Group 1 hat-trick
New Plymouth-based trainer Robbie Patterson is confident his star mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) can add a third Group 1 to her CV in Saturday’s Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Te Rapa.
The 6-year-old is coming off back-to-back wins at the top level, in the Herbie Dyke S. and Bonecrusher S.
“She’s probably the best she’s been all season,” Patterson told TDN AusNZ.
Coventina Bay (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“She’s freshened-up nice from her last run. Five weeks in between runs suits her; she runs real good fresh.
“She just needs a bit of luck and she’ll be right in the finish.”
Patterson said Coventina Bay is likely to head to Queensland for the Queensland winter carnival.
Kodiac filly tops Tatts Craven
Having topped the sale with a Kodiac (GB) colt on Tuesday, Tally-Ho Stud moved a daughter of their game-changing stallion onto the silver step of the podium when lot 96 realized 460,000gns ($851,000) during Wednesday's concluding session. This filly was said to have melted the stopwatches in her breeze on Monday and there was corresponding interest from Jake Warren, Richard Brown and David Redvers before they yielded to Irish trainer Michael O'Callaghan.
“I have bought a lot of good horses off Tally-Ho,” said O'Callaghan. “And this is a lovely filly who did a very fast breeze. She's a lovely physical with a great pedigree, so she ticks all the boxes and hopefully she will make up into a Royal Ascot filly.” She was a sixth recruit for the stable from new client Amo Racing.
Over the two days, 103 head of horse were traded for 11,939,500gns ($22,092,893), yielding an average and median of 115,917gns ($21,4491) and 90,000gns ($166,536), respectively. That amounted to gains of 15%, 35% and 32% on 2021.
Native Trail impresses
He was 1-4 and there were no anxious moments as Godolphin's Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB) simply turned up and repeated his juvenile antics in Wednesday's G3 bet365 Craven S. at Newmarket.
Taking some strides to organise himself as he had on this track and the July Course at two, the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Dewhurst S.-winning European champion juvenile got motoring out of the “dip” to brush aside the long-time leader Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and score by 3 1/2 lengths from the promising course maiden winner Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}). “That was a perfect trial–they went a nice pace,” jockey William Buick said. “Everyone had been delighted with him at home and it was a proper trial.”
Charlie Appleby added, “He was two kilos heavier today than he was in the Dewhurst and I'm a big believer that they should be the same weight going into the Guineas than they were then. At 540 kilos, he's the same weight as Adayar and Hurricane Lane. His racing brain has clicked in now and he saw the mile out well there."
Portelli visits great mate
Gary Portelli has paid a visit to Fireburn’s sire Rebel Dane, who he won a Group 1 with in the Manikato S. in 2016.
Rebel Dane is currently at Silverdale Farm in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
The Portelli-trained Fireburn is looking to become the first filly since Burst (Marauding {NZ)) in 1992 to win the Triple Crown.
“Hopefully we etch the girl’s name in history,” Portelli said.
Rebel Dane will stand at Widden Stud in 2022 for $27,500 (inc GST).
“I’m so proud of him,” Portelli added.
Fernie dreams of Sires’ success
Ascot-based trainer Luke Fernie says winning Saturday’s WA Sires’ Produce Stakes would the highlight of his fledgling career.
The 26-year-old has three runners - Left The Building (Exceed And Excel), Sweep The Leg (Maurice {Jpn}) and I Love Your Smile (Sebring) – in the Group 3 contest over 1400 metres.
“Yeah, this would be a huge thrill, I’d love to win this race,” Fernie told TDN AusNZ.
Luke Fernie | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Fernie has a slight leaning to Sweep The Leg, which will be ridden by in-form jockey Clint Johnston Porter.
“He’s a beautifully bred 2-year-old, doing it all on natural ability,” he said.
“His debut run was super and he’ll relish getting out to 1400 metres.”
Matriarch winner has work cut out in Caulfield feature
JD Hayes admits Group 2-winning mare Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) faces a tough ask in Saturday’s G3 Easter Cup (2000 metres) at Caulfield.
The 5-year-old has drawn the widest gate (19) and will jump from 16, assuming the emergencies come out.
“She’s drawn the car park, which isn’t ideal. She’s a horse that likes to balance up in her races, so we’ll have to take our medicine from the barrier,” Hayes told Melbourne radio station RSN927.
Zayydani (NZ) | Image courtesy of Grant Peters
“She’ll be spotting them a long way at the top of the turn, but we couldn’t have been happier with the way she returned, knowing how much improvement she had in her.”
Zayydani resumed from a spell, finishing sixth, less than 2l behind the winner, Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), in the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo on April 2.
