My Truth impressively breaks maiden
The Anthony Cummings-trained My Truth (NZ) (Proisir) impressively broke his maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday, presenting the first win for the AHT Thoroughbreds silks.
Having finished an encouraging fourth on his first start at Wyong in July, the 3-year-old scooted clear to defeat Ironbark Artie (Flying Artie) by an emphatic 4.8l.
The gelding is out of the Listed-winning mare Pennacchio (NZ) (Align) making him a half-brother to Hong Kong Group 3 winner Full Of Beauty (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Commodity gets off the mark
Commodity (Capitalist) chalked up the first win of his career when he got off the mark over 1418 metres at Geelong on Wednesday.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the 3-year-old gelding came out on top of a close finish to beat Lavish Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) by 0.1l. Cisalpine (Toronado {Ire}) was another 0.4l away in third.
The gelding was purchased by Rogers Bloodstock and Roll The Dice Racing for $200,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Kitchwin Hills draft. Capitalist is standing at Newgate Farm for a fee of $99,000 (inc GST.
Weatherley chalks up first win
A mere two days after entering her partnership with her father Darryn, Briar Weatherley celebrated her first win courtesy of Breckon Power’s (NZ) (Power {GB}) victory at Cambridge.
Weatherley was over the moon with the result, particularly given the fact her brother Sam did the steering.
Briar Weatherley | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“It was awesome, I am really rapt,” she said. “We had two nice chances today and I was hoping they would both run well.
“It was awesome to have Sam ride my first winner. It is what you dream of - being in partnership with Dad and having Sam ride her (Breckon Power), it was a pretty special moment for me, and something I will remember forever.”
Espiona to stick to sprints
Chris Waller will have his sights set on Group 1 targets for high-class mare Espiona (Extreme Choice) and has said the daughter of Extreme Choice will likely stick to sprinting trips this season.
"I'm going to keep to 1200 to 1400 metres with her and just feel my way," Waller said.
"She will be ready to go early September and probably get to a race like the Golden Pendant late in September.
"I'm not sure if she will be ready for a race like the Rupert Clarke S., but I want to win a Group 1 with her and then we can start to get fancy."
Forbidden Love homes in on Missile Stakes
Triple Group 1 winner Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) heads a field of 12 for the first Group race of the Sydney season, which could provide an early preview for The Everest.
Connections of both Forbidden Love and Saturday's G2 Missile S. rival Count De Rupee (Real Impact {Jpn}) have flagged their interest for an appearance in the $15 million race and get an opportunity to put themselves in the shopfront window at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Michael Freedman is adopting a philosophical approach and says Forbidden Love's form alone will determine whether she deserves a slot in the $15 million October sprint.
Forbidden Love | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
"If she comes back in good form someone will be interested in her and if she doesn't, they won't," Freedman said.
"We just have to focus on what we're doing with her and if an opportunity presents itself, we would have a good look at it."
First stakes winner for Sioux Nation
Former shuttler Sioux Nation (USA) has enjoyed a brilliant start to stud in the Northern Hemisphere and on Tuesday, he enjoyed a red-letter afternoon when Sydneyarms Chelsea (Ire) landed the G3 Prix Six Perfections at Deauville.
The 2-year-old filly stayed on impressively all the way to line to beat Terrestrial (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by an 0.8l.
Sioux Nation shuttled to Swettenham Stud for one season in 2019, covering 54 mares at a fee of $17,600 (inc GST).
Fastnet Rock filly lands French Listed race
Joie De Soir (Ire) - a daughter of Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock - landed her second Listed victory on Tuesday when she took out the Listed Prix du Carrousel at Deauville.
Bred and raced by Coolmore, the 4-year-old forged clear in the final stages to post a 3.5l victory over Goya Senora (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}).
Joie De Soir is one of 189 stakes winners for the son of Danehill (USA), who is standing at Coolmore Australia for a fee of $165,000 (inc GST).
Second Group 1 for Saffron Beach
The Jane Chapple Hyam-trained Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) landed the second Group 1 of her career in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Tuesday.
The daughter of New Bay (GB) won the G1 Sun Chariot S. as a 3-year-old and she added to her elite-level tally with a comprehensive 2.5l victory over Tenebrism (USA) (Caravaggio {USA}).
Runner-up in last year’s G1 1000 Guineas, Saffron Beach went into Tuesday’s Group 1 off the back of a victory in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot.
Walker remains in induced coma after fall
Michael Walker remains in an induced coma 24 hours after a fall at Pakenham jump-outs on Tuesday morning.
Walker’s condition remains serious but stable after initial scans cleared the jockey of spinal and internal injuries. Doctors are dealing with a brain trauma.
Michael Walker
The Victorian Jockeys’ Association CEO Matt Hyland told News Corp that doctors at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne plan to reduce Walker’s sedation on Wednesday.
“As of last night, the plan was for the doctors to start to reduce the sedation over the next 24 hours,” Hyland said. “Michael suffered a very heavy concussion, so the fact they are slowly bringing him out of sedation is positive.”
Vale Doris Thurgood
Doris Thurgood, the mother of the late jockey Elvis ‘Ricky’ Thurgood, has died.
Thurgood and her husband Noel dedicated their lives to looking after Ricky after he suffered life-changing injuries following a fall in the 1980 G3 Easter Cup at Caulfield.
As a result of the fall, Ricky, who died in August 2021, was left with severe brain and physical injuries that meant he required round-the-clock care throughout the remainder of his life.
Throughout the 40-year period, the Thurgood family remained connected to Victorian racing, attending race meetings and National Jockeys Trust’ functions.
Elvis Thurgood | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
VJA spokesman and long-time family friend Des O’Keeffe said: “On behalf of all at the Victorian Jockeys Association, we express our deepest sympathies and prayers to Doris Thurgood's husband Noel and son Derek and daughter Debbie.
“Doris was truly one of a kind. Loving, caring, generous, welcoming, inspirational, and fiercely determined in ensuring her late son Ricky lived the best possible life under the most challenging circumstances. Rest in peace Doris as you remain in our thoughts and prayers.”
