Victoria considers banning Alligator Blood
The colourful saga of dual Group 1-winning drawcard Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) continues, with Victorian racing officials giving no guarantee that he will be allowed to race during the spring carnival.
Alligator Blood, winner of the G1 Stradbroke H. | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding, who returned to his brilliant best when capturing last Saturday's the G1 Stradbroke H., is currently unable to race in New South Wales due to his managing owner Allan Endresz's horses being barred due to his bankruptcy claims.
Earlier this year Racing NSW said the ban was not implemented to target Endresz, and was instead triggered to prevent undischarged bankrupts from controlling racehorses, and to have a ‘line of sight’ over all persons involved with thoroughbreds in NSW.
Begg to take a breath
Grahame Begg will take a deep breath before determining the future racing program of Jonathan Munz's unbeaten filly Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock).
Begg told RSN that the impressive Listed Creswick S. heroine will head to the paddock for a brief spell before being set for a big spring carnival.
Russian Revolution notches his 14th winner
Russian Revolution extended his lead atop of the first-season sires’ standings by winners to five after Brudenell saluted on debut at Port Macquarie on Sunday.
The Kris Lees-trained filly went home the better of Madiba Rose (Epaulette) and Shades Of Frisco (Dane Shadow) in the 1100-metre maiden.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
With 14 winners this season the Newgate Farm-based Russian Revolution has amassed $1.74 million in progeny earnings, which sees him maintain a $206,555 lead over his nearest rival Gold Standard.
Tuvalu set for Winter Championship tilt
Lindsey Smith will set Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}) for next fortnight’s Winter Championship Final after a gallant victory in Saturday’s David Bourke H. at Flemington.
Smith, who won the Winter Championship Final in 2019 with Reykjavik (Artie Schiller {USA}), told RSN that Tuvalu was primed for the race after recapturing his best when going home the better of a gallant Visinari (Dark Angel {Ire}).
American Pharoah gelding salutes
Coolmore shuttle stallion American Pharoah (USA) brought up his 30th winner of the season by the way of Osman’s breakthrough maiden victory at Coonamble on Sunday.
American Pharoah (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
The gelding, who was contesting his third career start, finished the better of Angela Sistina (All Too Hard) and Rupicasso (Winning Rupert) in the 1200-metre contest.
Zahra to let De Boss decide his next step
Simon Zahra will not commit to smart sprinter Zac De Boss (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) contesting next fortnight’s the All-Victorian Sprint Series final despite the 4-year-old’s impressive straight-track success at Flemington on Saturday.
Zahra told RSN that the 4-year-old gelding shows his best when a month between and could instead head to the paddock for a spell.
Another winner for Flying Artie
Newgate Farm stallion Flying Artie notched his 35th winner of the season via Carry On Flying’s maiden victory at Mount Gambier on Sunday.
Flying Artie | Standing at Newgate Farm
The Peter Hardacre-trained 3-year-old outlasted Fiveohwon (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}) and Tafika (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the 1573-metre race.
Flying Artie is currently fifth on the second-season sires’ standings by winners after edging one win clear of Darley stallion Astern.
Peters’ stars settling in
The Bob Peters-owned Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Regal Power (Pierro) are settling into their new surrounds at Danny O’Brien’s Thirteenth Beach property.
The Group 1-winning duo have been in O’Brien’s care for a month after transferring from Grant and Alana Williams' Western Australian base.
“They are really enjoying the new environment down on Thirteenth Beach doing plenty of work as we speak,” O’Brien told Racing.com.
“They’ll come up and race in the early part of the spring and Bob Peters will decide where they are best placed.”
No Royal Ascot regret for Pride
Joe Pride has no regrets about opting against a G1 King's Stand S. tilt with Eduardo (Host {Chi}).
The Warwick Farm-based trainer, whose star sprinter has beaten Nature Strip (Nicconi) home on four occasions, said Eduardo still has plenty of unfinished business on Australian soil and that the best way to ensure he peaks in the spring was to spell in Queensland.
Fellowes eyes Melbourne Cup
Charlie Fellowes, who saddled up Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) to three consecutive G1 Melbourne Cup placings, could return this spring with G2 King Edward VII S. runner-up Grand Alliance (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).
Charlie Fellowes | Image courtesy of Emma Berry
The British-based trainer said Grand Alliance will profile as the perfect Melbourne Cup candidate following a gelding operation.
Jazz to chase Winter Championship
Stephen Ralph has his sights set on next month’s final of the ITM/GIB Sprinters’ Winter Championship Series with New York Jazz (NZ) (Niagara) after the evergreen sprinter capped off a solid run of form when taking out a tight finish at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The 6-year-old, who is yet to salute over the Winter Championship Series final distance of 1400 metres, brought up career win number eight and his third at Te Rapa when he refused to yield in a head-to-head struggle with top-weight Crystallize (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) over the concluding stages of the race.
“We think it is just bad luck that has stopped him winning over 1400 metres in the past, so I’m not worried about that for Ruakaka,” Ralph said.
“He just needs the right run in the race and if he gets it then he will be right in it.”
