Fourth winner for Merchant Navy
Coolmore's Merchant Navy secured his fourth Australian winner from his first crop with the victory of Rebel Rosai at Wagga on Sunday.
Rebel Rosai, a $17,000 buy for Hidden Valley Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale before being sold again for $30,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, was having her first start for Paul Murray in the 1200-metre maiden.
Ridden by Winona Costin, she secured an upset win, edging out Pride Of Penraf (Pride Of Dubai), while stablemate Diamond Flyer (Press Statement) was third.
Merchant Navy joins Invader with four first-crop winners, placing him fourth overall when it comes to freshman sires by winners.
Second success for Overshare
Spendthrift Australia stallion Overshare has marked his second winner with Share The Gold saluting at start number four in at Hobart.
Share The Gold, prepared by Gary White, proved superior in a 1200-metre maiden, defeating Happy Clan (Ilovethiscity) and Zulu Angel (Zululand).
A homebred for the Gudden family, the gelding is the second winner by Overshare from just three starters, joining smart filly Lady Laguna.
Queensland bonus in the offing
Racing Queensland is set to announce an added bonus for any horse that can win the G2 Hollindale S. and one of the G1 Doomben Cup or The Q22.
The bonus, to be announced on Monday, will consist of $150,000 to the winning owners along with $50,000 to the trainer.
“We want to see our weight-for-age stars campaigning all the way through Stradbroke season and the addition of the $200,000 bonus should provide extra incentives for trainers to push on to the Doomben Cup and The Q22 after contesting the Hollindale,” Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell said.
Brendan Parnell | Image courtesy of Racing QLD
“In recent years, we’ve seen the likes of Vow And Declare, Incentivise and Zaaki all leave their mark on our middle-distance programs.”
Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) looks a major contender for the bonus with the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding to tackle the Hollindale and the Doomben Cup.
Tycoon's Flemington audition
John McArdle is hoping his quality filly Tycoon Humma (Capitalist) can prove she is up to a trip to Adelaide for some quality races when she fronts up at Flemington on Saturday.
"She seems to be back to her best and it will be nice to give her a look at Flemington again," McArdle told Racing.com.
The daughter of Capitalist hasn't raced since that run at The Valley more than a month ago due to a virus.
"She had a little bit of a virus, that's why she didn't run a couple of weeks ago," McArdle revealed.
"She had about 10 days off, but she's back in the stable now obviously and very bright and bouncing and doing everything right."
McArdle said there were a number of races in South Australia that Tycoon Humma can be aimed at.
Guineas goal for Loch Eagle
The Kris Lees-trained Loch Eagle (Lonhro) will chase a stakes breakthrough in next Saturday‘s G3 Hawkesbury Guineas with Lees believing the 3-year-old can measure up to Group 1 class.
“He is going really well but just found that track the other day a grade or two heavy for him two weeks ago but he will be better suited at Hawkesbury,” he said.
“He had his chance (to go past the leader) but I just think he found that real testing ground a bit too hard.”
Loch Eagle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Guineas will play an important role in shaping Lees' plans with the horse.
“Loch Eagle being a colt is one horse that could go somewhere but he might be a prep away from his peak,” Lees said. “You’ve got the Guineas there and if he went to a Fred Best, the Stradbroke is something we could look at.
“Hawkesbury will be a bit of a fork in the road."
Oaks plans take shape for Lekvarte
Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) is looking to get her G1 Queensland Oaks campaign back on track with a win at Monday’s ANZAC Day meeting at Randwick.
Lekvarte's hopes of contesting the G1 Australian Oaks was upset by her dislike for wet tracks, but Pride hopes that the Queensland feature can prove the consolation prize.
‘’I have been trying to avoid wet tracks and it’s just getting further and further in between runs,’’ Pride told Racenet.
“I dragged her all the way to Brisbane and got a wet track so I brought her back here and I am going to run on Monday because my target is the Brisbane staying races for the fillies and they’re getting closer, so if I don’t give her a run soon, she is going to be short of a run when I need her to be fit.
‘’I had her in the (Australian) Oaks but I scratched her that day (because of the wet).
“I have got a very good opinion of her, she has just got to get on top of the ground – even Soft is all right, but her three runs on Heavy are her worst runs."
Sargent's long-term Derby plan
John Sargent hopes Monday's Listed ANZAC Day S. can be a good sighter for promising debutant Perfect Thought (So You Think {NZ}) ahead of a spring assault on the G1 Victoria Derby.
Perfect Thought has trialled three times on rain-affected ground in Sydney and the 2-year-old's last trial on Heavy ground convinced Sargent to look south in search of firmer ground.
“I think a lot of him,” Sargent told Racenet. “I think he’s a really nice So You Think horse and the big straight and the good track will be perfect for him.
John Sargent | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It’s been very wet here (in Sydney) and his last trial in the wet wasn’t as good as his previous one so we thought we’d aim him for this.
“He’s done enough work to run over the 1400 metres first-up and if he can get a soft run somewhere, he should be hitting the line.”
Defiant ready for stakes test
Promising juvenile Defiant (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) is ready to tackle stakes company at her next assignment after her win at Riccarton on Saturday.
It was the second win in succession for the Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong-trained filly who has just kept improving since finishing second on debut at Wingatui where a slipped saddle inconvenienced her during the final stages of the contest.
“She is a real little professional who doesn’t do a lot wrong and has just kept improving since her debut run,” Kennedy said.
Defiant will now have one more start before heading for a winter spell with Kennedy keen to see her tackle the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne S. at Riccarton on May 7.
Defiant (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“The Champagne S. is the obvious target before she has a break as long as she comes through her race on Saturday well,” he said.
“The track was pretty firm and we are mindful of that, but she is likely to meet a good number of those she beat on Saturday and if she keeps improving as she has, then she would have to be a strong contender.
“We are really looking forward to next season as being by Tavistock out of a Savabeel mare you would think her best is still well ahead of her.
“I was actually speaking with Andrew Campbell, who trained Tavistock, after the race and he just said to me they are not meant to do that at this age so she could be very exciting.”
