Japan Cup option for Duais
While triple multiple Group 1 winner Duais’ (Shamus Award) main target in Australia this season will be the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup, trainer Edward Cummings has said the mare could be aimed at the G1 Japan Cup.
The daughter of Shamus Award's win in the G1 Tancred S. qualified her for a $4.3 million bonus if she were to win the Japan Cup – on top of the $4.4 million winner's purse – and Cummings said that had been factored into her spring planning.
Duais | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
"It's definitely worthwhile," Cummings said.
"But we really won't know exactly where we stand until probably after the Caulfield Cup and leading into the Melbourne Cup, depending on how she runs."
First foal for Farnan
The first foal by Kia Ora’s G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning sire Farnan has arrived.
The colt is out of the US Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placegetter Insta Erma (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) and she is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Mordi’s Miracle (USA) (Lawyer Ron {USA}).
The first foal by Farnan, a colt out of Insta Erma (USA) | Image courtesy of Kia Ora Stud
“It’s only fitting that Kia Ora’s first foal of the season is by our Champion 2-Year-Old Farnan. He’s a great type, good size, lots of scope, clean-limbed and just so athletic, I’m absolutely wrapped with him,” Kia Ora’s Bloodstock and Breeding Manager, Shane Wright said.
Elephant gears up for spring
After an autumn campaign ended by injury, Elephant (NZ) (Shocking) showed he is on target in a Cranbourne jump-out.
After an Australian debut win at Caulfield just shy of 12 months ago, Elephant went on to run second in the G2 John Feehan S. at The Valley before winning the G3 Sandown S., giving Elephant six wins from his first seven starts.
"He's been off the scene for a little bit now and he looks to have come back good," co-trained Emma-Lee Browne said after Elephant's jump-out on Monday.
"We'll take it day by day with him. We'll see how he pulls up from this as to whether he has another jump-out or goes straight to the races. He has been really exciting. He has had a few issues which has been a shame and it could have been a bit more exciting if he hadn't have had those.
"He's a lot bigger and stronger than he was this time last year and hopefully he'll be kicking on in the spring."
Saxon Warrior filly impresses
The Jim Bolger-trained Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who ran second over seven furlongs at Down Royal in his July 22 debut last time, won nicely at Naas on Monday afternoon (local time). Inching into second on the home turn, the 4-1 second choice made continued headway under pressure in the straight to challenge approaching the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing stages to assert by 2 1/2 lengths.
"I was happy enough where I was sitting and I was following the right horse. She picked up well when she met the rising ground and went to the line well. Whatever she does as a 2-year-old is going to be a bonus and I think she's a real 3-year-old in the making. She's a lovely, big filly and has a lovely way of going," said jockey Kevin Manning.
Cox Plate aim for Forgot you
Group 1 placegetter Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) will be aimed at the G1 Cox Plate this season, according to trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
Co-trainer Natalie Young said the new 4-year-old could kick-off his spring as early as the G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield on August 27.
“I’d love to see him win a Group 1 and maybe go to a Cox Plate as he’s so good at The Valley – he’s three from three at The Valley,” Young told Racing.com.
Forgot You (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He trialled up really nice (at Sale) and won his jump-out there. We just wanted to try him on better going and there was a better surface there.
“Sometimes it’s good for these colts to have a good trip away and that’s brought him on nicely. He was bouncing out of the barn this morning.
“He’ll have another jump-out here and we’ll see what we will target. Maybe a Memsie. We’ll see what the next few weeks brings on.
“His mannerisms are great. Daniel Moor was very happy with his first trial.”
Overseas interest feature prominently in spring races
Racing Victoria is looking forward to a Spring Carnival with increased international involvement following Tuesday's release of nominations for three of Australia's biggest races.
Aidan O'Brien, Joseph O'Brien, Charlie Appleby and Saeed Bin Suroor are among the trainers represented in the nominations for the G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Cox Plate.
Of the 186 horses entered for the Melbourne Cup, 43 are from the Northern Hemisphere – an increase of 28 on last year – while Caulfield Cup international entries are up from nine to 32 with the Cox Plate tripling from four to 12.
The increase comes on the back of the lessening of COVID restrictions and Racing Victoria tweaking the scanning process for horses required to compete during the Melbourne spring.
Fireburn not in Caulfield Guineas
Despite being at the head of betting for the G1 Caulfield Guineas, last year’s G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning filly Fireburn (Rebel Dane) was not among the nominations for the Caulfield Group 1.
However, the Gary Portelli-trained daughter of Rebel Dane did feature among the nominations for the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Nominations for the G1 Caulfield Guineas are up from 278 last year to 324, which is no surprise given the race is now worth $3 million this year.
Fireburn | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The G1 Blue Diamond winner Daumier (Epaulette) featured on the list nominations, as did Fireburn’s stablemate Sejardan (Sebring).
Meanwhile, G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel) was also nominated for the Group 1.
Walker hospitalised following jump-out fall
Jockey Michael Walker is in the Intensive Care Unit of Melbourne's Alfred Hospital being monitored for concussion following a fall at the Pakenham jump-outs.
Walker was airlifted to hospital on Tuesday morning after the horse he was riding collapsed.
The Victorian Jockeys' Association said following scans at the Alfred Hospital, Walker had been cleared of internal injuries but was currently in ICU with concussion.
Walker was drifting in and out of consciousness while being treated on track at Pakenham for an hour before being airlifted to hospital.
Chitty recognised for industry contribution
Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty was recognised at the weekend for his years of work in the thoroughbred industry by being bestowed the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s Personality of the Year Award to recognise his outstanding contribution to the industry.
The list of organisations that Chitty has been part of is a long one. As well as being the Auckland branch president and national vice president of the NZTBA, he’s been a board member of New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing, a Racing Hall of Fame board member, Equine Health Trust board member, and chairman of the Counties Racing Club committee.
Mark Chitty (right) pictured with his parents Caroline and Ron after receiving his award for Personality of the Year at the New Zealand Breeding Awards | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
In more recent times, he’s been a key player in the merger of the Auckland Racing Club and Counties Racing Club into Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, and is now vice chairman of that key group.
