Astern notches another winner
Young Darley stallion Astern brought up his 27th winner of the season by the way of Count Of Sancerre’s breakthrough maiden victory at Sale on Tuesday.
The Cindy Alderson-trained gelding finished the better of Trinity Beach (Dissident) and Tatsuro (Maurice {Jpn}).
Astern is currently seventh on the second-season sires’ standings by winners.
Rothfire to run in Doomben 10,000
Robert Heathcote has confirmed that Rothfire (Rothesay) will line up in the G1 Doomben 10,000 should Saturday’s race be shifted from Doomben to the quick drying Eagle Farm track.
Heathcote’s decision to race Rothfire in the sprint feature, should it be staged at Eagle Farm, comes as a surprise considering he originally earmarked the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup a fortnight later as Rothfire’s next port of call following an unplaced performance on resumption in the G2 TAB Victory S.
Alegron drawn well
Alegron’s (Teofilo {Ire}) G1 SA Derby chances have been further bolstered with the last-start Listed VRC St Leger S. winner drawing superbly in barrier three.
Alegron
The James Cummings-trained gelding, who boasts placings in the G1 Victoria Derby and the G1 ATC Derby, is now the outright SA Derby favourite after the unbeaten Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) drew gate 15.
Trekking tunes up for Goodwood
Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) indicated that he may still have another Group 1 left in him with a dominant trial victory at Morphettville on Tuesday.
The Godolphin-owned galloper, who is being prepared for Saturday week’s G1 The Goodwood H., beat home Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) by 5l after leading from pillar to post in the 600-metre heat.
Allard seeking answers
Grant Allard is hoping a G3 Dark Jewel Classic tilt will provide more answers than questions for Majestic Shot (Shooting To Win) as his classy mare attempts to put a home track disappointment behind her.
The Gosford-based trainer is poised to head to Scone on the back-up with his mare, who was luckless in the straight when finishing third on home turf in last Saturday's Listed Takeover Target S.
Majestic Shot | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Majestic Shot will jump from 1100 to 1400 metres for the Dark Jewel S., which could provide a springboard to a potential trip to the Queensland for the states winter carnival.
Poy suspended for two-months
Michael Poy has been suspended for two months following a Racing Victoria stewards' inquiry into his losing ride at Kyneton on Monday, where he went for home a lap early.
Poy rode his mount Dente (Fiorente {Ire}) along in the 2828-metre race, eventually crossing the finishing line the first time around a clear ‘winner’, but when the field caught up with Poy shortly after, the jockey realised his grave mistake.
Stradbroke on the cards for classy Kiwi
A tilt at the G1 Stradbroke H. is a possibility for Tauranga-based sprinter Gospodin (NZ) (Proisir) after a highly encouraging Australian debut at Gosford last Saturday.
The Jim Fender-trained Gospodin faced a number of quality sprinters in the Listed Takeover Target S., including G1 The Galaxy H. winner Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado {Ire}), but after backing off an early speed duel, he made his challenge three from the fence and was outrun only by Blondeau (I Am Invincible).
Gospodin (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“It was a huge run, I didn’t realise it until I looked at the stats yesterday afternoon, and he actually ran five metres further than the winner and was beaten by a short neck, so there’s even more merit,” Pender said.
“He’s come through the race well. Since he’s been here he’s ticked all the boxes for me.”
Stone Age the prime choice for Moore
Ryan Moore will find it difficult to ride anything other than Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Cazoo Derby, according to Aidan O'Brien, who may be without - Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) - the ace in his Epsom pack.
Stone Age didn't just open the door to a tilt at the Derby in winning the G3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, he kicked it open and announced himself as a leading player in demolishing the field and skyrocketing to a commanding favourite for Epsom glory in the process.
Williams on the board
Lloyd Williams opened his account for the 2022 European flat season with one his brightest 3-year-old prospects Swan Bay (Ire) (Australia {GB}) winning at Roscommon on Monday.
Lloyd Williams | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the lightly raced Swan Bay won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race over 2050 metres.
Servis to Stand Trial in January 2023
A federal judge has established trial dates for the remaining Thoroughbred-related defendants in the alleged international doping conspiracy case that has already netted several convictions and a number of guilty pleadings.
The most prominent name among the indicted individuals is the barred trainer Jason Servis, whose case will be tried alongside that of New York-based veterinarian Alexander Chan on January 9, 2023.
Servis amassed gaudily high win percentages during the 2010s decade prior to getting arrested on three felony drug misbranding and conspiracy to commit fraud charges in March 2020.
According to a trove of wiretaps the government has produced as evidence against him-plus implicating testimony from plea-bargaining defendants who are already imprisoned.
Servis allegedly doped almost all the horses under his care in early 2019, including Maximum Security (USA) who crossed the line first in the G1 Kentucky Derby, but was DQ'd for in-race interference.
