Daily News Wrap

Nicely bred 3-year-olds score on debut

A couple of promising 3-year-olds won at the first time of asking on Thursday. They included the Chris Waller-trained gelding Coppleson (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), a brother to multiple Group 1 winner Te Akau Shark (NZ), who took out the first event under Brenton Avdulla.

Offered by Woburn Farm at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he was bought by McKeever Bloodstock for $200,000.

Meanwhile, the Godolphin Australia homebred Bayezid (I Am Invincible) was a 0.35l winner for trainer James Cummings and jockey James McDonald. This colt is from the Group 3 victress Ottoman (Exceed And Excel) and related to stakes winner Isuarian (Exceed And Excel), as well as five-time Group 1 winner Mummify (Jeune {GB}).

Frankel filly salutes at Sale for Drakenstein Stud

The Juddmonte star Frankel (GB) posted his 40th Australian winner on Thursday when his filly Let'sbefrankbaby, trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock, broke her maiden at the second time of asking at Sale. She posted a narrow victory over the Rosemont filly, Born Hustler (Tarzino {NZ}).

Let'sbefrankbaby carries the silks of the South African-based Drakenstein Stud, with de Kock paying tribute to the ownership.

"They've put a lot of investment into the yard and this is the first winner in Australia for us, so it's a milestone and we're very, very happy," he said on Racing.com.

Let'sbefrankbaby was bred by Glentree Pastoral and she's the first foal from the imported mare Baby Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The 3-year-old filly was a $400,000 yearling in the Bhima draft of the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, bought by Griffiths de Kock Racing, Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) and Heywood Bloodstock.

I Am Superman heads south

In an effort to dodge the wet weather in Sydney, I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) will make the trip south this weekend for the G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield, which he will be using as a stepping stone towards the G1 Rupert Clarke S. at the same course and track next month.

"This race suits the track, it's currently a (good) four with light showers expected, and hopefully not too much more than that," Snowden said. "And if he runs well then, we'll look at the Sir Rupert Clarke in a few weeks' time.

"But it all depends on track conditions. Anything worse than a soft six, he's just not effective on it. Unfortunately, up here we're getting hammered. We can't get a drying track, but there are races for him up here, if we get the weather right."

Miss Hellfire to bloom in the bud?

Meanwhile, I Am Superman’s stablemate Miss Hellfire (Hellbent) is primed to run a big race first-up in Saturday's Listed The Rosebud S. The 3-year-old, who won one of her four starts during her juvenile campaign, is one of two fillies in the $160,000 sprint.

"We are really happy with this filly though. She has been working well, looks very good and we're happy with the trials she has had, so she will definitely be very competitive," co-trainer Peter Snowden said.

"There has been a big improvement in her physique this time which has got us excited about what she might do this preparation."

Blue Diamond attracts 1500-plus nominations

The 2023 G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield has attracted 1544 juveniles in the first round of nominations, the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has revealed. They include horses from the stables of Waterhouse-Bott (117), Maher-Eustace (114), Annabel Neasham (111), Price-Kent Jnr (81) and Anthony and Sam Freedman (87).

Among the nominations is a filly by Justify (USA) from the dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour (Star Witness), plus a Dundeel (NZ) colt from the Caulfield Cup hero Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}). Floozie, a Zoustar filly from the Blue Diamond winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock), is also among them.

First acceptances for the 2023 G1 Blue Diamond S. are due at midday on Tuesday, November 15 and, owing to Caulfield renovations, the race will be hosted by Ladbrokes Park (Sandown).

Fireburn to trial

Last season's G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane) will ramp up her spring preparation when she steps out in a trial against multiple Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) at Rosehill on Friday.

The Gary Portelli-trained filly will contest a 900-metre heat on the course proper, with fellow Group 1 winners Fangirl (Sebring) and Hinged (Worthy Cause) and her classy stablemate Sejardan (Sebring) also entered the trial.

"She has won a race since (the Slipper), but they've got to come back at three. That is always a worry," Portelli said. "From what I've seen this preparation, we saw a horse that knew nothing when we started off with her, now she is coming back in, knows everything and is a stronger horse. I can't see any reason why she can't come back and be dominant again."

NSWROA announces finalists

The New South Wales Racehorse Owners' Association (NSWROA) has announced its finalists for Racing's Night of Champions, due to be held at Royal Randwick on Thursday, August 25.

Awards categories include NSW 2-Year-Old of the Year, 3-Year-Old of the Year, and respective awards for Sprinter, Miler, Middle-distance and Stayer of the Year. An overall NSW Champion Horse of the Year will also be crowned, along with a Queen of the Autumn, plus Country and Provincial awards respectively.

The trio of Nature Strip (Nicconi), Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) have been shortlisted for the NSW Champion Horse of the Year, while awards will also be presented for the BOBS Horse of the Year.

"With COVID restrictions eased this year, we are really excited to bring the event back to its former glory," said Tony Mitevski, president of the NSWROA.

Awards will also be presented in the categories of Sydney Strapper of the Year, Caryl Williamson Racing Writers’ Personality of the Year, TJ Smith Award, George Moore Award, Theo Green Award and the coveted Bart Cummings Medal.

Kheir stakes claim for Golden Eagle with new import

Leading owner Ozzie Kheir will target the Golden Eagle with his latest international purchase, the lightly raced Fast Company (Ire) colt Light Infantry (Fr), who comes from David Simcock's Newmarket base. He will head to trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for a select spring campaign.

The deal was brokered by Matt Becker and Ciaron Maher Racing's Will Bourne, and Kheir told News Corp that Light Infantry will then return to Simcock in the UK to race in Europe next (Northern Hemisphere) summer, before returning to Australia with a G1 Cox Plate campaign in mind.

“We were keen on having a horse that can race in Europe next year, especially at the Royal Ascot carnival after being inspired by the Australian horses that competed there this year,” Kheir said.

Light Infantry won both of his starts as a 2-year-old, the latter being the highly regarded G3 Horris Hill S. at Newbury. His best performance, his latest of four lifetime starts, was in the G1 Prix Jean Prat in July, in which he finished a 1.25l second to Aidan O'Brien's smart Tenebrism (USA) (Caravaggio {USA}).

Sunday’s G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600 metres) at Deauville will be Light Infantry's first race for his new owners, said Kheir, where he will meet last year's Cox Plate winner, State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).

Coolmore buys into undefeated Uncle Mo colt

Coolmore America has bought into a partnership for the undefeated 2-year-old colt Gulfport (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), who is trained by Steve Asmussen and returned a more than 12l last-start winner of the Listed Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs last month.

The victory was the widest margin in the history of the six-furlong sprint, and the second-fastest ever posted for the race. Gulfport won on debut by 7l at Churchill Downs in June and, when retired, he will stand alongside his sire at Coolmore's Ashford Stud.

"We are delighted to partner with William and Corrine Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm on such an exciting son of Uncle Mo," said Coolmore's M.V. Magnier this week. "His performance in the Bashford Manor was very special, and we think there's a lot more to come."

Zaaki in great order

Trainer Annabel Neasham couldn’t be happier with her triple Group 1 winner, Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who will begin his quest for a tilt at the Cox Plate on Friday when he trials at Rosehill.

Zaaki will kick off his spring campaign in the G2 Tramway S. (1400 metres) next month.

“He’s great,” Neasham told Racing.com. “As always, he comes up much quicker than you expect. The plan is to kick off in the Tramway which is the same race he ran in first-up this time last year, and he’s well-ahead of schedule for that.

“The ultimate aim and the grand final this campaign will be the Cox Plate, so I think those extra few weeks in the paddock will have served him well.”

Cummings mulls options for Aft Cabin

Trainer James Cummings is yet to finalise his plans for talented colt Aft Cabin (Astern), who was a brilliant winner at Ladbrokes Park Hillside on Wednesday. The Caulfield Guineas hopeful has come through his maiden victory well, according to Cummings.

“He has time to run in a couple of the lead-ups, if I wish to go that way, and we’ll let reality unfold from there,” Cummings told Melbourne radio station RSN927.

Three finalists for South Australian Horse of the Year honours

Racing SA has announced its three finalists for the 2021/22 South Australian Horse of the Year title, and they are Behemoth (All Too Hard), See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) and Regalo Di Gaetano (Supreme Class).

While Behemoth is trained by David Jolly, the remaining two finalists are in the yard of co-trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly.

Behemoth will be vying for his second claim to the title (after winning in 2020) and he's the sole South Australian Group 1 winner for the season 2021/22. See You In Heaven was a winner of the G3 Breeders' S. and Listed Dequettville S., while Regalo Di Gaetano won the G3 Eclipse S. at Morphettville and was twice a Listed winner.

The South Australian Horse of the Year will be announced at the 2022 Racing SA Industry Awards at the Adelaide Convention Centre on August 27.

Callow charged over alleged bets

Former Melbourne-based jockey Noel Callow is to face the Victorian Racing Tribunal over a host of betting charges stretching as far back as 2013.

The Group 1-winning rider, who has been based on the Gold Coast for the past few seasons, has seven charges to face over 24 alleged bets totalling nearly $4000.

The rider was based in Victoria at the time of the alleged offences with the seven charges covering alleged wrongdoing from 2013 to 2019. Most bets were placed on horses that raced in Victoria between December 6 and 14 in 2013.

None of the bets placed were on races that Callow had any direct or indirect involvement in.