Daily News Wrap

First New Zealand stakes winner for Time Test

Little Avondale shuttler Time Test (GB) sired his first New Zealand-bred stakes winner on Saturday when the Andrew Forsman-trained Leedox (NZ) landed the Listed Futurity S. at Pukekohe.

Having run third on his first start, the 2-year-old finished strongly to beat

Contagious (NZ) (Proisir) by 0.4l, while Timeless (NZ) - who is also by the Little Avondale shuttler - came home in third.

“That was a super win as he was very professional in the way he took the gap in the straight and put in over the closing stages,” Forsman said. “He did get to the front a long way out and I was worried the favourite (Contagious) might have the last run on him, but to his credit he refused to give in and got the win.

“He will more than likely go for a spell now as there isn’t a lot around for him and he still has plenty of developing to do. If he can improve over that break, then we may have a smart 3-year-old on our hands.”

Leedox was bred by Mapperley Park Principal Simms Davison and was purchased out of his 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1 draft for NZ$220,000 by Bruce Perry on behalf of owner Lib Petagna.

Sherry brings up sweet milestone

Last season's champion apprentice, Tom Sherry has made the perfect start to his senior riding career with a Randwick victory aboard the John O'Shea-trained Cotehele (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

It was the young jockey's first Saturday meeting since coming out of his time as an apprentice during the week and he was thrilled to get the monkey off his back so soon.

"The start of the day was a bit rocky but it is always good to get a winner without an 'a' beside your name," Sherry said.

"I suppose just for myself, confidence-wise, now that is out of the way, it's game on."

Cotehele delivered, scoring by a length over Titanium Power (So You Think {NZ}) with French Marine (Epaulette) third.

Widdup celebrates double at Randwick

Trainer Brad Widdup celebrated a double at Randwick on Saturday when Moon Reader (Odyssey Moon) won the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation H., while Surreal Step (Sidestep) took out the Taylor Construction H.

But given Widdup's stable star Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) lost two major races in photo finishes, the 2020 Golden Eagle and 2021 G1 Doncaster Mile, he was delighted for a change of luck.

Widdup said Sydney racing had become so high-level and competitive, there was hardly any margin for error or bad luck.

"We've seen that with Icebath, haven't we?" Widdup said.

"She has been great, but it would have been nice to get a couple of those wins.

"We have been slowly building a nice bunch of horses up for Saturday racing, which is what we want to be about. It's good to have a good day and I hope they keep throwing the big prices up."

Treble for I Am Invincible

Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible gained the lead in the race to be crowned Australia’s Champion Sire last weekend and he enjoyed another good Saturday, siring three winners, headed by Najmaty’s win in the Listed Helen Coughlan S. at Eagle Farm.

The stallion was also represented by Journalism, who won over 1200 metres at Newcastle, while 4-year-old mare Selburose snapped a long losing run to post her first win since September 2021 when she landed a BM78 at Caulfield.

Meanwhile, Coolmore’s So You Think (NZ) - who sits second behind I Am Invincible - sired one winner on Saturday courtesy of Nothinsweetaboutme’s victory in the Canterbury League Club at Randwick.

With all still to play for, I Am Invincible has extended his lead ever so slightly and he is now sitting $303,713 in front of So You Think.

Freedman pays emotional tribute to Steel Prince

Co-trained Sam Freedman paid an emotional tribute to popular stayer Steel Prince (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who was put-down after he suffered a heart attack shortly after the start in the G3 Premier's Cup on Saturday at Eagle Farm

"It's tough really for the whole stable," Freedman told Racing.com.

"He's been an amazing horse for the whole stable and his owners and sadly, had a heart attack coming out of the gates."

"He's a horse of a lifetime, you don't often get a horse like him come around, won five metro races in a row, ran in two Melbourne Cups and gave his all every time."

From 34 starts, Steel Prince recorded 10 wins and nine placings, with his most memorable wins coming in the 2019 Listed Andrew Ramsden and 2020 G3 Geelong Cup, while his final victory came at Flemington on ANZAC Day last month.

Walker a winner again in the city

The Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) provided Walker with his first triumph back from a year-long absence at Pakenham two weeks ago and on Saturday he gave him his first win back at metropolitan level when he took out the Take It To The Neds Level H. at Caulfield.

"He keeps surprising me," Walker said. "I thought he was a Blue Diamond horse last year, and they've gelded him, a couple of times I've ridden him in work, and he hasn't done what we thought he would.

"His piece of work earlier this week was outstanding. I said to Cindy this morning, 'I'm just going to cruise over, I know we've got the speed but I don't want to burn the candle at both ends'.

"So I was able to bide my time to get over, and once we got there he just travelled beautifully, not like a sprinter that just wants to keep going and go harder, he actually came off the bridle and before the corner I had to say, 'Come on mate' and shake him up.

"Once the horse was on the outside, he showed a lot of will and determination, as well as the class he's always had."

No Effort back to best at Caulfield

No Effort (Reward For Effort) returned to winning ways in the Neds Punters Toolbox at Caulfield and while the victory may have surprised some, her trainer Gavin Bedggood said he was expecting her to run well.

Bedggood said there had been genuine excuses for No Effort's failures at her two starts prior to landing the prize on Saturday.

"I felt like I've defended this mare for her last couple of runs because she's obviously run below par, but she's had legitimate excuses," Bedggood said.

"She had mucus detected on her scope two back, she burst her barrier open before the jump last start and missed the start by 3l and ended up last in a slowly run race which gave her no hope.

"Daniel Schmidt who rides her gallops, galloped her Tuesday morning and said, 'You can't have her going any better and if she doesn't do something on Saturday, we've got to reassess things'.

"We knew she was ready to go today and if she didn't run accordingly, she was probably looking for the breeding barn."