Daily News Wrap

Lindsay Park to train Irish import

Ben and JD Hayes have a legitimate Melbourne Cup contender on their hands, with Camorra (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) – a winner of the G2 Curragh Cup for trainer Ger Lyons – joining the stable.

Camorra has been purchased by Jarred Magnabosco’s Best Bloodstock.

“This horse has got established form lines into the Melbourne Cup, for a long time the Curragh Cup has been a good form race,” JD Hayes told News Corp.

“He should get in with a nice weight.”

Freedmans play it straight with Doull

Snitzel colt Doull – a $1.2 million Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase – will likely be kept to straight races this spring.

Co-trainer Anthony Freedman said Doull – an impressive debut winner at Flemington in May - will probably resume in the Listed Poseidon S. on September 10, before tackling the G2 Danehill S. and G1 Coolmore Stud S.

“I think we’ve got a bit of a plan in mind where he basically runs here in straight races all the way through,” co-trainer Anthony Freedman told Racing.com.

Doull finished second in an 800-metre jump-out at Flemington on Monday.

“He came here, first trial, he wasn’t asked to do a lot. I’m happy with how he went, he did it under his own steam. He’s still got a little while before he runs, so he’ll probably have another one (jump-out),” Freedman said.

Talented stablemates Daumier (Epaulette), Crosswinds (Written Tycoon), Cannonball (Capitalist), Wilbury (Capitalist), Custodian (Shalaa {Ire}) and Philosopher (Zoustar) also jumped out at Flemington on Monday.

Ayrton to resume in Caulfield Group 1

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s dual Group 3 winner Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) will kick off his spring campaign in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. (1400 metres) on September 17, before tackling the G1 Toorak H. (1600 metres) on October 8.

Stablemate I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) won his maiden Group 1 in last year’s Toorak H.

Overpass needs to prove his worth

Bjorn Baker hopes Overpass (Vancouver) can convince the remaining slotholders that his Group 2-winning sprinter is capable of mixing it with Nature Strip (Nicconi), Eduardo (Host {Chi}) and Co. in the $15 million The Everest, which will be run at Randwick on October 15.

“I’m really happy with how he’s come up. He’s definitely developed into more of a man,” Baker told News Corp.

“He’s got a lot going for him for a spot in The Everest but now it’s up to him. He needs to prove he’s worthy of a slot.”

The 4-year-old entire will trial at Rosehill on Friday.

Cummings eyes Cup with Alegron

Listed VRC St Leger S. winner Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}) will be aimed at this year’s Melbourne Cup.

“He’s a superior stayer and he’s already rated 101,” trainer James Cummings told News Corp.

“He’s qualified for the Melbourne Cup but he’s got to compete his way into the race but he’ll get a light weight, he loves Flemington and he loves the longer distances.

“When he won the St Leger over 2800 metres, it was a very good staying performance.”

The 4-year-old is likely to resume later this month or early next.

Stars to trial on Tuesday

A host of spring contenders will trial at Cranbourne on Tuesday.

Grahame Begg will send out unbeaten mare Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock), last year’s Caulfield Cup runner-up Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) and Group 2 winner Lunar Flare (Fiorente {Ire}).

Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel), Lightsaber (Zoustar), Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), Away Game (Snitzel), Star Patrol (Starspangledbannger) and Crosswinds (Written Tycoon) are some of the other notable horses set to trial.

A Monday treble for Moody

Champion trainer Peter Moody had a day out at his home track, Pakenham, on Monday, leading in the first three winners.

Kasparaov (Russian Revolution), Merry Mac Boy (I Am Invincible) and Edith (Written Tycoon) all won at the first time of asking.

Merry Mac Boy is out of the stakes-winning mare Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and made $300,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Vavasour’s dam is multiple stakes winner Our Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}), who has also thrown black-type winners Vilanova (NZ) (Commands) and Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park).

Williams to miss Memsie

Craig Williams will be absent from Victoria’s first Group 1 race of the season – the Memsie S. at Caulfield on August 27 - instead opting to partake in Japan’s World Super Jockeys' Series, which will take place in Sapporo on August 27 and 28.

Williams, who has participated in the event nine times, will compete against Theo Bachelot (France), David Egan (UK), James Graham (USA), Vincent Ho (Hong Kong) and Coralie Pacaut (France) at the event.

Nations Pride an unlikely Cox Plate contender

It appears Saratoga Derby hero Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) won’t be heading to Melbourne for the Cox Plate.

It appears the Charlie Appleby-trained Nations Pride won’t follow the path taken by last year’s Saratoga Derby winner State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).

“We’ll step him up to the mile and a half (2400 metres) of the Jockey Club Derby Invitational, that would probably be the most realistic aim now,” Appleby said.

When asked if the Breeders’ Turf Cup would then follow for Nations Pride, Appleby replied, “If we’re lucky enough that he can get the job done there (in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational) it’s a ‘win and you’re in’ race for the Breeders’ Cup so it gives us the option.”

Texas to be tried in stakes class

The Nick Bishara-trained Texas (NZ) (Rubick), who broke his maiden status at Ruakaka on Saturday, will get another crack at some black-type races in the not-too-distant future.

“I was very pleased with him and I’ve been singing his praises for a while. I thought he was a grouse horse and he had been showing me so much last season and it was just a shame he couldn’t win one,” Bishara said.

“I’ve got to make a decision now and haven’t ruled out the Northland Breeders’ S. (Group 3, 1200 metres) or run him in a Rating 65 over 1300 metres and then look at the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Group 2, 1400 metres).”

Deep Field gelding victorious in Macau Derby

Cheers Brothers (Deep Field) stepped up to stakes level in style on Sunday with an impressive win in the M$2.3 million (AU$406,000) Macau Derby (1800 metres).

The 5-year-old was bought for NZ$150,000 from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge at 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1.

Cheers Brothers’ half-brother, the Cindy Alderson-trained Count Of Sancerre (Astern), won at Sale in May.

Aussies to the fore in G1 Preis der Diana

Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}) made all and held off her rivals to land a gusty win in Sunday’s G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) at Dusseldorf on Sunday.

The Andreas Wohler-trained 3-year-old was purchased privately earlier this year by Australian Bloodstock and was ridden to victory by Australian star Kerrin McEvoy.