Memsie draw favours Alligator Blood
Racing's controversial star Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), now competing for Gerry Harvey, has drawn the inside barrier for this Saturday's G1 Memsie S. The 6-year-old gelding was given the green light only this week to resume racing in Victoria, with former owner Allan Endresz relinquishing his stake in the last start G1 Stradbroke H. winner.
Alligator Blood drew barrier one on Wednesday morning's draw, with fellow fancies I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) and Cascadian (GB) (New Appraoch {Ire}) drawing nine and seven respectively.
Alligator Blood has drawn barrier one for the G1 Memsie S. on Saturday at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The undefeated Illation (So You Think {NZ}), now three for three in South Australia, drew less than favourably in barrier 13, while Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) fared better with barrier three. Western Empire (NZ), the Iffraaj (GB) gelding that shares race favouritism with Illation, drew barrier 12.
Death of Count De Rupee
The 5-year-old gelding Count De Rupee (Real Impact {Jpn}), trained at Kembla Grange by Robert and Luke Price, died on Wednesday morning during a routine jump-out. It was reported across the morning that he had a heart attack.
Count De Rupee was one of the rising stars of the weight-for-age scene in Australia. Last season, he was second to I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) in the rich Golden Eagle, going down by just 0.2l in a star-studded field. At his following start, he won the million-dollar The Gong.
Count De Rupee | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
In the autumn, the gelding was second to Kementari (Lonhro) in the G3 Hall Mark S., then won the G2 Victory S. at Eagle Farm. He was last seen when running fifth in the G2 Missile S. at Randwick on August 6.
“We are beyond devastated on the loss of our star boy this morning,” read a statement from the stable. “He was not only a star on the track, but also off it with his beautiful, kind nature. Our thoughts and condolences to his owners and all our staff for all their care, love and dedication to our Jimmy.”
Impending 3-year-old Scorches the turf
Team Hawkes-trained gelding Scorch (Impending), a half-brother to dual Group 1 heroine In Her Time (Time Thief), broke through at the first time of asking on Wednesday. The 3-year-old posted a narrow win over 1100 metres at Randwick-Kensington under William Pike.
Scorch was offered by Corumbene Stud for breeder Fred Moses at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Hawkes Racing for $240,000.
“The best part about this bloke is the older he gets, the better he will be,” Michael Hawkes told Sky Racing. “He has done everything right to date, but he is still a baby. He has a lot of upside and will mature physically and mentally.”
Scorch’s second dam, Steam Heat (Salieri {USA}), is the dam of stakes winners Flaming Hot (County) and Hot As Hell (County), as well as Sin Sin Sin (Fantastic Light {USA}), who is the dam of Group 2 and The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes.
Scorch is nominated for the G1 Golden Rose S. and G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Zou Tiger lays spring marker
John O’Shea will aim Zou Tiger (Zoustar), an easy winner over 1300 metres at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday, at the G1 Golden Rose S. and G1 Caulfield Guineas.
“There’s a 1400-metre race two weeks out from the Golden Rose, so we’ll go there and that will give us a feel for where he will slot in,” O’Shea told Sky Racing. “He’s a progressive colt heading towards both the Golden Rose and the (Caulfield) Guineas and he’s got a racing pattern that will suit both Rosehill and Caulfield.”
A half-brother to two-time Group 3 winner Daisies (Sebring), Zou Tiger was consigned to the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Offered by his breeder, Widden Stud, he was bought by O’Shea for $200,000.
San Domenico test for unbeaten Nettuno
Tony Gollan claims Saturday's G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill will give him an understanding as to how good the talented colt Nettuno (I Am Invincible) really is.
Unbeaten in three starts, Nettuno will tackle the likes of Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel), Swiss Exile (Pariah), Promitto (Divine Prophet) and Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution) in the $200,000 sprint.
Nettuno (yellow cap) | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“We’ll know a lot more after the weekend," Gollan said. "Saturday is the race that shapes where he’s at and where we go with him. There is a myriad of options, it just depends on the horse and how he measures up to stronger grade.
"He has good form around him from the races that he’s won. I don’t think you saw the best of him at the Gold Coast either. He is a horse I have a good opinion of.”
Waller with two-pronged attack on Up And Coming
Saturday’s G3 Up And Coming S. at Rosehill has attracted a strong list of 11 nominations.
Chris Waller has two runners engaged - the superbly bred Basquiat (Snitzel) and Conqueror (Churchill {Ire}) - and he says that duo is part of a solid bunch of “Group 3 horses” that have the potential to climb the ladder.
“It’s exciting when you’ve got a handful of decent colts because they won’t all come back well,” Waller said.
“But the ones that are looked after at two should come back well, that’s how I see it, and it seems to suit our types of horses.”
Passive Aggressive looks to extend unbeaten run
One of the stars of the winter, the Grahame Begg-trained Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock), will attempt to improve her record to five wins from as many starts on Saturday. The 4-year-old will jump from barrier three in the G3 Cockram S. (1200 metres).
Passive Aggressive | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We’re raising the bar. She’s going up against mares on Saturday at set-weights and penalties, so we’ll see if we can tick that box,” Begg said. “We’ll keep on raising the bar and see where the level is.”
Smith on weather watch
Lindsey Smith will wait until later in the week before deciding whether In The Boat (Nostradamus) resumes in Saturday’s G3 The Heath 1100 S. at Caulfield.
In The Boat, who is being aimed at the G1 Manikato S., may not run if the track is severely rain-affected.
“We know he’s not fully wound up, but we are happy if it’s a (Soft) 6, he’ll go," Smith told Racing.com.
In The Boat | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We were going to wait until Moonee Valley, but we thought the inside might be chopped up a bit too much.
“He's not going to be right up to his best, he’s got a long road.
“The aim is to get him into the bigger races at his best and this race is the best kick-off timing-wise, so it will be good if it works out.”
MRC to revisit spring carnival shake up
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has welcomed comments by Racing Victoria’s (RV) new CEO Andrew Jones regarding the potential to extend the spring carnival.
The MRC lobbied hard in 2020 to prolong the spring carnival into late November, including moving the Caulfield Cup, believing it would attract larger crowds, take advantage of better weather and possibly improve wagering, but the proposal was rejected by RV.
“Moving the spring carnival into later in the year makes complete sense and it’s something we’ve been pushing for four years, it's a great time of year in Melbourne,” MRC CEO, Josh Blanksby, told Racing.com.
“It's why we moved the Zipping Classic and happy to be involved in any plans to make changes to the spring.”
Jones appeared on RSN927 on Wednesday morning, and said: “My fundamental view of sport and sport scheduling is you’ve got to give the fans what they want, when they want it.”
Rogerson mulls options for Sharp ‘N’ Smart
A host of Australian feature races remain a possibility for highly regarded Kiwi Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
The 3-year-old was narrowly beaten into second in the Listed The Phoenix before he returned to Eagle Farm to finish fourth, and less than 1l off the winner, in the G1 JJ Atkins.
“I’ve got to decide now where I’m going to run him on September 10, he’ll have one run in New Zealand before he goes to Australia,” Rogerson said.
Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“He could go to Sydney and run in the Gloaming S. and the Spring Champion S. and then go to Melbourne the Monday after that for the VRC Derby.”
The other option Rogerson will discuss with his co-owners is to target the G1 Caulfield Guineas as a way of earning a start in the G1 Cox Plate (2040 metres) with a possible Derby tilt to follow.
Six out of nine for Te Akau at Taupo
Matamata trainer Mark Walker, who was announced in December last year as Te Akau Racing’s new head trainer in replacement of the Hong Kong-bound Jamie Richards, delivered a memorable day at Taupo’s race meeting on Thursday. He sent out six winners across the nine-race card.
They included the pair of Waikato Stud-bred horses Savito (NZ), a daughter of Savabeel from the multiple Group 1 winner Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park), and Outfit (NZ) (Tivaci), a stakes-placed 4-year-old mare.
The Te Akau team also sent out the winners Zeitaku (NZ) (Savabeel), Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Fellini (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and Cognito (So You Think {NZ}).
“We had a sizeable team but it was still a remarkable effort to win six races,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “Mark had the team beautifully prepared for their resuming runs and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) and I couldn’t be more proud of the way everyone is working together.”
La Crique wins Taupo trial
Classy Kiwi mare La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) tuned up for her first-up run in the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on Saturday fortnight with a 2.75l trial win at Taupo on Wednesday.
The multiple Group winner was spelled following her second in the G1 New Zealand Derby and has come back in fine order.
“I’m very happy with how she is progressing and the timeline ahead of her. She is coming to hand nicely and today’s trial was encouraging,” co-trainer Katrina Alexander said.
“Craig (Grylls) was really happy with her as well and it was quite good to see her control the speed, she was happy to relax when told and kick at the end.
“She has grown and has come up in front and she is carrying more condition than what she did last preparation,” Alexander said.
La Crique is likely to head to Australia, with the $10 million Golden Eagle and G1 Cox Plate both realistic options.
Impressive winner for Churchill
Coolmore Stud shuttler Churchill (Ire) chalked up an impressive winner on Wednesday as Madame Odette made a winning debut at Ipswich.
Trained by Tony Gollan, the 3-year-old filly surged clear to beat Canuck (Vancouver) by 0.5l, while War Hope (Warhead) was the distance away in third.
Purchased by Flying Start Syndications and David Mee’s Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) for $80,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the Berkeley Park Stud, Madame Odette is out of winning Snitzel mare Cloudwatch.
Madame Odette becomes the sixth Southern Hemisphere-based winner for Churchill who will stand the upcoming breeding season for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
TAB NZ ditches deductions
TAB New Zealand has announced that, ongoing until the end of New Zealand Cup Week in November, it will remove all deductions on fixed-odds final-field win and place bets. It means that punters won’t have their dividends reduced if their selected horse wins or places in a race, regardless of one or several scratchings in a race.
“What you see is what you’ll get,” said Simon Thomas, the TAB NZ chief betting officer. “It doesn’t matter if there’s one, two, three or even six scratchings from when the market opens right through to the race being run. If you backed a horse to win at NZ$6 and it duly delivers, you will get paid out the full NZ$6.”
Both local and international racing will enjoy the ‘no deductions’ initiative, which TAB NZ hopes will remove punters’ frustrations and improve the betting experience.
