In The Boat wins inaugural The Country Discovery
Blaike McDougall sees Group 1 potential in bold front-runner In The Boat (Nostradamus), who he guided to a dominant victory in Friday’s first-ever running of the $500,000 The Country Discovery at Sale.
Trained by Lindsey Smith, the 4-year-old romped home by 2.75l over Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) and Sirius Suspect (Wanted), improving his career record to seven wins and four placings from only 11 starts.
“He’s a ripper, this horse,” McDougall said. “I think, as long as he stays sound and fit, he’ll win a Group 1 – especially at The Valley.
“The sectionals he can run early, and how he allows himself to quicken off them, makes it nearly impossible to catch him. I reckon he has Group 1 written all over him.”
Ayrton makes impressive return
After missing most of the spring due to a spider bite, Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) could be about to make up for lost time.
The 4-year-old made a highly impressive return to action in Saturday’s G3 Neds Victoria H., and he has now recorded six wins and two placings from eight career starts.
"I was mindful that he was probably coming into it a bit underdone, but he was the class horse in the race,” jockey Jamie Kah said.
Ayrton (NZ) wins the G3 Victoria H. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I wasn't going to do anything silly on him like push forward or try and get out and get going early. I wanted to wait and give him the cosiest run I could, and everything turned out perfectly for him.
"But he still had to do it, and he really accelerated. He's come back probably better than he was last time I rode him."
Ayrton is trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, who will now take him to Queensland to target the G2 Hollindale S., G1 Doomben Cup and G1 The Q22.
Easter Cup success for Milford
A Listed winner in New Zealand and runner-up behind Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) in last year’s G1 New Zealand Derby, Milford (NZ) (Savabeel) landed his first Australian victory in Saturday’s G3 Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Easter Cup at Caulfield.
Ridden by Patrick Moloney for trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney, Milford produced a strong finish to wear down Holbien (Pierro) and snatch a 0.1l win in a photo finish.
Milford (NZ) lands his first Australian victory in the G3 Easter Cup at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He's come back better as a gelding,” stable representative Glen Thompson said. “He showed a fair bit early on, but lost his way a bit as a colt.
“He came back last time as a gelding but struggled a little bit. Mike put him in a paddock and he's come back great this prep. It just looked like he was crying out for the 2000 metres, and he showed that today.”
Mamounia picks up first stakes win
Talented Godolphin filly Mamounia (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) capped a strong run of form with her first black-type victory in Saturday’s Listed Elvis Thurgood Galilee Series Final at Caulfield.
A maiden winner on Boxing Day, Mamounia went on to run second at Newcastle and third in the G3 Adrian Knox S. at Randwick before her Caulfield breakthrough.
Mamounia and Benny Huang after winning the Listed Elvis Thurgood Galilee Series Final at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“Now that she’s conditioned with a couple of runs under her belt, she’s a lovely staying prospect,” stable representative Sean Keogh said.
Polly Grey dominates JRA Plate
Outstanding wet-track mare Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) was in a class of her own in Saturday’s G3 Sharp Extensive IT JRA Plate at Randwick, careering away to win by 5.36l.
It was the 11th win of a 40-start career for the popular grey, who has earned just under $800,000 in stakes.
Polly Grey (NZ) wins the G3 JRA Plate at Royal Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She’s a good, tough horse and obviously likes the conditions,” trainer Chris Waller said. “You don’t see Hugh Bowman in front very often, but today you need to be right up there, so Hugh put the kettle on, didn’t he?
“I think it was the Gosford Cup last year, she won well, and she’s continued winning since. She carried weight today and showed a good turn of foot when she needed to.”
Je Suis Belle has final say
A fast-run Listed TAB Ascot Quality H. at Eagle Farm on Saturday played into the hands of Je Suis Belle (Bel Esprit), who charged home from a long way back to score by 1.25l.
The 5-year-old mare has now recorded eight wins and eight placings in a 16-start career.
“You don’t want to hear what I was saying mid-race, she was back that far,” trainer Mark Currie said. “I thought she might run fifth in the straight, and then the last 150 metres she got going.
“I thought she was a bit underdone, because she has had a few setbacks since she last ran, so I didn’t expect that.”
Flying Crazy heads Brisbane treble for Ryan and Alexiou
A trip to Brisbane paid dividends for Gerald Ryan on Saturday, saddling three winners including Flying Crazy (Flying Artie) in the Listed XXXX Daybreak Lover.
Also the winner of last month’s Listed Canberra Guineas, Flying Crazy has now recorded four wins and two placings from 10 career starts.
“I love Queensland and I love this track, it looks really, really good,” said Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou. “I came up to try and get some dry feet.
“It is a better surface than what we have in Sydney and my horses really appreciated it. That’s why I came up here. We were too dumb to come up earlier.
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Flying Crazy, we have an opinion of him, and when Hughie Bowman rode him first-up he said, ‘If this horse ever gets a brain…’
“He is well-named because he is crazy, but he was good today and he can let go with sensational sectionals when you want him to.”
Ryan and Alexiou also won with 2-year-old Green Shadows (Menari), who is now unbeaten in two starts and a contender for the G1 JJ Atkins S. in June.
Camelot gelding wins Cup
So often close up behind the placegetters in feature New Zealand staying races, Swords Drawn (Camelot {GB}) finally had his day in the sun with a come-from-behind win in Saturday’s Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup.
Bought for NZ$140,000 from the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Swords Drawn has now had six wins and 10 placings in a 34-start career.
Swords Drawn (purple cap, white stars) wins the Listed Hawke's Bay Cup at Hastings | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Before Saturday’s breakthrough, his career highlights had been a second-placing in the G3 Wellington S., third in the Listed 3YO Salver, fourth in the G3 Wellington Cup and fifth in the G2 Auckland Cup.
“He deserved to win a stakes race, because he has been thereabouts in these types of races before,” co-trainer Shaune Ritchie said.
“We’ve got him right now and he likes to have his races spaced, so we might have to consider something in Australia next. I don’t think he is a true two-miler, so a race like the Andrew Ramsden at Flemington next month might be a good target – or maybe a mile and a half in Sydney on the wet tracks they are getting there.”
Talented sprinter steps up
Bright sprinting prospect Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) passed his toughest test to date with flying colours in Saturday’s Listed Power Turf Sprint at Hastings.
It was the first black-type success for the 4-year-old speedster, who has now won five of his eight career starts.
“He just has speed to burn, so the instructions to Darryl (Bradley, jockey) were to go to the front and rate him from there,” co-trainer and part-owner Margaret Carter said.
Johny Johny (NZ) wins the Listed Power Turf Sprint at Hastings | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“He has been a hard horse to train and just needs to strengthen up further, so we think he will be at his best in his next campaign.
“He’s bred more like a middle-distance horse, and his full-brother Kirwans Lane races over a mile in Sydney, but this guy is all about speed.
“He doesn’t cope with wet tracks, so it’s likely we are going to tip him out now and let him have a breather before we get him ready for next season.”
The Power Turf Sprint has unveiled subsequent sprint stars in the past – last year’s edition was the first black-type win for Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who went on to win this year’s G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington.
