Neasham outlines next step
Annabel Neasham has confirmed Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) will head north to defend his G2 Hollindale S. and G1 Doomben Cup crowns during the upcoming Queensland winter carnival.
The Warwick Farm-based horsewoman’s decision to return to the scene of Zaaki’s statement 2021 winter campaign rules out any possibility of the 7-year-old heading to Royal Ascot this year.
Zaaki (GB) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“A decision with connections has been made that Zaaki will remain here and head to the Hollindale and Doomben Cup with James McDonald to ride and Royal Ascot could well be on the cards for next year," Annabel Neasham Racing tweeted on Friday.
Warrior ready to win
Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) is ready to add another important stakes victory to his resume on resumption in Saturday’s Listed Bel Esprit S. at Caulfield, according to Mick Price.
The Cranbourne-based horseman, who trains the Rosemont Stud-owned colt in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, said the G3 Blue Sapphire S. victor has completely recovered from a setback that ruled him out of the early stages of the autumn carnival.
“He’s a good colt, we’ve had some nice horses here and he’s certainly one of them. He works good, trials good and is nice and full of himself,” Price told RSN.
“I know there’s pressure for these colts to go to stud, especially being a son of Extreme Choice, but he’s going really well and it looks like a nice race for him.”
Capitalist continues remarkable run
Newgate Farm stallion Capitalist brought up his 52nd winner for the season by the way of Penthouse’s first-up victory at Canberra on Friday.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm
The Matthew Dale-trained filly finished the better of Press Ahead (Press Statement) and Marvelous (Nicconi) in the 1000-metre maiden.
Capitalist is now 18 wins clear atop the second-season sires' standings by winners, with his closest rival being Arrowfield Stud’s Shalaa (Ire).
Bon to go bang
Ben Hayes can’t fault evergreen ‘stable favourite’ So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) ahead of his tilt at three consecutive VOBIS Gold Mile’s at Caulfield on Saturday.
The eldest Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brother JD, said the veteran of 74 starts is ready to put his best foot forward in the $250,000 feature after a bold fourth placing in a BM100 H. at Bendigo on April 2.
“We kept him ticking over to target this race, it’s a race he can go for without getting too much weight,” Hayes told Racenet.
“He ran well with a big weight last start, hopefully out to the mile he can perform again. He’s in great order and acting like a 3-year-old, so we expect him to run well.”
A Sooboog salutes
Junko, a son of young Kitchwin Hills stallion Sooboog notched the second success of his career when taking out a BM58 at Werribee on Friday.
Sooboog | Standing at Kitchwin Hills
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper, who was partnered by 3kg claiming apprentice Matthew Chadwick, beat home Beachhaven (Exceed And Excel) and Wegottem Today Son (Manhattan Rain) in the 1110-metre contest.
Sooboog has registered 22 winners for the season and is currently eighth on the second-season sires' standings by winners.
Shelby ready for dry-track test
Danny Williams couldn’t be happier with Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado {Ire}) in the lead up to the G1 The Galaxy H. hero’s first Victorian start in Saturday’s $250,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint at Caulfield.
The Goulburn-based horseman holds some concerns about a firming surface but says his stable star has never been sounder despite pulling up lame following the G1 TJ Smith S. earlier this month.
Shelby Sixtysix | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
"He's going three weeks into tomorrow's run so it's a little bit of an unknown how he's going to go, and the track's drying out, but the horse has travelled here very well and I couldn't be happier with him,” Williams told Racing.com.
"It is a bit concerning as the horse just likes that little bit of cushion in the track, the firm tracks he's lacked a bit of confidence but he's going off a bit of a high at the moment and the horse has never been sounder."
Harron active at Goffs UK
James Harron in conjunction with Blandford Bloodstock and de Burgh Equine purchased two juveniles at Goffs UK on Thursday. An abrupt opening bid of £125,000 ($220,000) from Stuart Boman for the Kessaar (Ire) colt (lot 26) put any dozing competition on the back foot, and though one or two recovered briefly it was the Blandford Bloodstock agent who completed the job at £160,000 ($282,000).
Boman explained that this calculated, “disruptor” flourish had been imported on behalf of his good friend Harron, who had jointly instructed him and Martin Buick from Australia. “James got in touch with Martin and myself with a view to finding a runner for Royal Ascot,” he explained. “Like so many Australians they'll be glad to be able to leave the country and it sounds like they're all coming! We had very strict criteria and identified this as the one horse we wanted to buy, hence the bidding tactics. He's a very mature horse, he was the quickest colt in the sale and, while time isn't everything, in this instance you're looking for a five-furlong horse and he was particularly quick. He'll be joining Richard Hannon.”
Boman and Buick bought a Zoustar filly (lot 130), on behalf of the same clients, for £150,000 ($265,000).
Shinn eyes Melbourne spring
Blake Shinn has his sights set on making a mark during the Melbourne spring carnival after calling time on a successful Hong Kong stint.
The G1 Melbourne Cup-winning hoop said it was a difficult decision to depart the Asian-racing mecca but described the nation's stringent COVID-19 restrictions as too much to bear.
"The plan that I have made is that I'm going to return in Victoria and see my family. The great thing is that the spring carnival's at that time so I'm going to ride down there,” Shinn told Racing.com.
"I'm excited, I can't wait to return to Australia but I'm looking forward to ending Hong Kong on a good note, and when I come home I'll be equally looking forward to that.”
Spangle up to the challenge
Zac Purton is excited by the prospect of challenging Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) aboard California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) in Sunday’s G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
The Champion hoop believes the progressive G1 Hong Kong Classic Cup hero, who is trained by Tony Cruz, has the capabilities required to topple Golden Sixty in his pursuit of surpassing Beauty Generation’s (NZ) (Road To Rock) all-time Hong Kong prizemoney record.
Zac Purton
“We’re at the stage now we’re going to measure up against the champ and see where we’re at, obviously, the ratings tell us we’re a long way out of it but now it’s time to go head-to-head with the big boy,” Purton said.
“I don’t know where we stand against Golden Sixty, he could just be better than us and that might be the case on the weekend, but we’re not going to know until we race against him and I feel that my bloke has still got room to improve.”
Pitman filly set to enhance her reputation
Michael Pitman says Pins filly Reputable (NZ) is in prime order ahead of her bid to become just the third filly to sweep the autumn legs of the South Island Filly of the Year series.
Reputable goes into Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep S. at her home track of Riccarton having won her last four starts.
"We're very happy with her. This was always going to be the main event for her,” Pitman, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew, said.
“She’s not bred to go 2000 metres but I remember Dianne (Pitman’s wife) used to look after a horse called Gretna Green and she was a pure 1200-metre horse and she won it (in 1979) and we won it with a horse called Kims Coup (in 2004) but she was a 1200 to 1400-metre horse.”
Tapit’s day in Florida
Action started off measured at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale's third session on Thursday, but picked up noticeably throughout the day, capped by a US$1.7 million (AU$2.33 million) Tapit (USA) colt purchased by Lane's End Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds. Hip 885 was the fourth seven-figure seller of the Sale so far.
Hip 885 - Tapit (USA) x Pension (USA) (colt) | Image couresy of OBS Sales
There were a few new faces buying in the top-end on Thursday with Christine and Phil Hatfield's CHP Racing purchasing an US$870,000 (AU$1.19 million) son of Into Mischief (USA) (Hip 844); trainer Cherie DeVaux securing a US$685,000 (AU$937,000) City Of Light (USA) (Hip 895) colt on behalf of a new colt-buying group; and Lauren Carlisle snagging a US$650,000 (AU$889,000) Kingman (GB) (Hip 904) filly for brand new owner Rich Schermerhorn.
Through the first three days of selling, 538 horses have brought US$72,814,500 (AU$99.6 million) with an average of US$135,343 (AU$185,000) and median of US$70,000 (AU$95,500). There were 106 juveniles led from the ring unsold for an RNA rate of 16.5 per cent.
