Trial delight for Moscow Night
Coolmore-owned colt Moscow Night (Written Tycoon) notched his first trial victory when saluting by 0.4l at Hawkesbury on Monday.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained juvenile didn’t break the clock, registering 1:01.74 in the 1000-metre heat. The Godolphin-owned Yoshino (Lonhro) and the Annabel Neasham-trained What’s Going On (Sizzling) rounded out the minor placings.
Moscow Night as a yearling, he sold to Tom Magnier and James Bester Bloodstock for $1.1 million and was consigned by Kia Ora Stud who retained a share | Image courtesy of Inglis
Moscow Night, who was purchased for $1.1 million at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Tom Magnier and James Bester Bloodstock, is a half-brother to G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. winner turned stallion Zululand.
Basquiat scores on debut
Basquiat (Snitzel), a $1.9 million 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Tom Magnier from the draft of Widden Stud, justified his ‘Winx-like odds’ when saluting at Doomben on Monday.
The Coolmore-owned colt beat home the Chris Munce-trained Brookhaven (Spieth {NZ}) by 0.5l in the 1615-metre contest.
Kallos trials in style
G2 Danehill S. hero Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is trending in the right direction after comfortably winning an 800-metre trial at Hawkesbury on Monday.
Kallos is looking to return to his G2 Danehill S.-victory form | Image courtesy of Ash Brennan
The Godolphin-owned galloper, who was last seen on raceday finishing 14th in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., beat home stablemate Quantenus (Exceed And Excel) and the Angela Davies-trained Alicia Roma (Your Song) in the 13th heat of the morning.
Whinchat wins another trial
The Bert Vieira-owned and bred Whinchat (Russian Revolution) put in another solid trial showing as he gears up for an imminent debut outing.
Trained by Matthew Smith, the 2-year-old colt, who has had six trials thus far clocked 0:59.70s to register the quickest time of all three 1000-metre juvenile heats held at Hawkesbury on Monday morning.
Whinchat is the first foal out of Natchwahli (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) , whose colt by Trapeze Artist sold to Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou Racing for $600,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Natchwahli is a half-sister to the G2 Matriarch S.-winning Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Savoir set to shine
Nick Ryan has declared G1 Queensland Oaks contender Belle Savoir (Not A Single Doubt) as his best chance yet to record a maiden top-flight success.
The Flemington-based trainer, who had French import Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) fall agonisingly short in last year’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., will spend the week in Queensland to ensure every box is ticked ahead of the 2200-metre feature.
Belle Savoir (black cap) couldn't get past Barb Raider (green cap) in last weekend's G2 The Roses but trainer Nick Ryan has always had this weekend's G1 Queensland Oaks set as her grand final | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Belle Savoir worked to the line strongly for a determined second in the G2 The Roses last Saturday at Eagle Farm behind class filly Barb Raider (Rebel Raider).
“We’ve set her for the Oaks and the whole time it’s been her grand final. So, it’d be fair to say she’d be in it up to her eyeballs,” Ryan told Racenet.
Kah to partner Ayrton in Stradbroke
Jamie Kah has been booked to ride Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in Saturday week’s G1 Stradbroke H. at Eagle Farm.
Jamie Kah will take the reins on Ayrton (NZ) in the G1 Stradbroke H. | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding, who is currently favourite for the 1400-metre feature, will be partnered by Ben Thompson in a trial on Tuesday morning.
Pannell ready to return
Leading South Australian-based jockey Todd Pannell will return to race riding at Morphettville on Saturday after missing the best part of 10 weeks with a broken collarbone.
Despite the untimely injury, which saw him miss the Adelaide carnival, Pannell remains in sixth position on the South Australian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership.
Te Akau stars spell bound
Te Akau Racing-owned duo Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) will return to New Zealand for a spell following unplaced performances in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup and the G3 Premier’s Cup respectively.
Entriviere (NZ) and stablemate Soprano Supreme (NZ) both head back to New Zealand for a spell | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Both mares went well first-up in Australia, with Entriviere finishing third in the G1 Doomben 10,000 and Soprano Supreme finishing runner-up in the Gold Coast Cup.
Patience the key to Pinarello
G1 Queensland Derby hero Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will fly back to New Zealand on Friday for a well-deserved break, with trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood keen to play the waiting game with their talented young stayer.
Pinarello (NZ) (black and gold) won the G1 Queensland Derby last weekend and will now return to New Zealand for a spell | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I think in a year’s time he'll be pretty much a made horse. All going well, he’ll probably get to Melbourne in the spring but I would think just for a couple of lesser options and then Sydney in the autumn we might start to get excited,” James told SENTrack.
“I think placing them is very important and if they need time, they need time and you've just got to give it to them.”
Latham counting his lucky stars
Jockey Keagan Latham is counting his lucky stars after avoiding serious injury from a raceday incident at Randwick on Saturday.
Latham had to be treated by on-course paramedics before the sixth event on the card when his leg made contact with the gate while entering the track. He suffered a right shin injury as a result of the contact and was stood down from his remaining rides on the card.
The New South Wales-based hoop will now retain the ride on G1 JJ Atkins S. hopeful Owen County (Dundeel {NZ}) after scans on Sunday revealed that Latham had not suffered breaks with swelling and bruising above his right ankle the only issues.
