Entriviere to be offered on Gavelhouse
The Te Akau Racing four-time Group winner Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), winner of the G1 Railway Handicap and G2 Sheraco S. has been retired.
“Entriviere will be offered for sale through Gavelhouse Plus. She is a very valuable mare, the winner of Group races on both sides of the Tasman, and I am certain she will be a highly attractive and sought after broodmare proposition," Ellis said.
"With the southern breeding season due to commence on 1 September, we expect a high degree of interest from international breeders and studs."
Hellbent off to a flyer
On Monday, second-season sire Hellbent added another winner to his seasonal tally via the debut victory of 3-year-old Honeycup at Benalla. The Caroline Jennings-trained filly led all the way, and was tough to hold off the late challenge of Wango Award (Shamus Award).
This makes it seven winners from 20 runners in Australia since August 1 for the Yarraman Park resident, who stands this season for $22,000 (inc GST).
Anamoe to head for George Main
James Cummings has revealed that his stable star Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) is likely to head to the G1 George Main S. at Randwick next month.
“Anamoe has pulled up terrific as you would imagine with the style of his win,’’ Cummings told Racenet.
Anamoe | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We haven’t locked in for sure his next race but the George Main S. (September 17) looks a really nice option for him.”
The 4-year-old colt wasted no time in justifying his connections’ decision to keep him in training for this season with a dominant display in the G1 Winx S. on August 20.
Empire Rose for Imperatriz
Trainer Mark Walker has mapped out a program for Saturday’s brilliant G2 Foxbridge Plate winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
The star mare will contest the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on September 10 and the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate at Hastings on October 1, before heading to Melbourne for the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington on October 29.
“The Empire Rose will be the grand final for the spring and she can have a break,” Walker told nzherald.co.nz.
Assuming those plans don’t change, Imperatriz will miss the $10 million Golden Eagle as it clashes with the Empire Rose S.
Forgot You ready for Feehan test
Dual Group 2 winner Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) will kick off his spring campaign in Saturday’s G2 Feehan S. at The Valley.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained entire was scratched from a 1500 metre at The Valley on August 20 due to the Heavy track.
“We just didn’t want to run him on that Heavy track,” Busuttin said.
Forgot You (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He trialled on equally as Heavy instead, but trialling and racing on Heavy are two different things.
“He had a good blowout, but he’ll go back to The Valley and do another piece on Tuesday morning, and he’ll be cherry ripe for the mile.”
Zaaki headlines strong Feehan nominations
Triple Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) heads a lost of 15 nominations for Saturday’s G2 Feehan S. at The Valley.
The Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki is also nominated for Saturday’s G2 Tramway S. at Randwick.
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) and Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) are three other big guns nominated for the Feehan.
Nature Strip to trial on Thursday
G1 King’s Stand S. hero Nature Strip (Nicconi) will contest a 900-metre trial (Heat 1) at Canterbury Park on Thursday.
In what is a trial full of star power, Nature Strip will face six rivals, including The Everest winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), Group 3 victor Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and multiple Group 1 victress September Run (Exceed And Excel).
Furious kick-off for She’s Extreme
After pleasing in an exhibition gallop at Rosehill last Saturday, Group 1-winning filly She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) will resume in Saturday’s G2 Furious S. at Randwick.
The Champagne S. heroine is one of 24 nominations, that includes Group 1 winner Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard), Group 2 winner Paris Dior (Pierro) and recent Group 2 Silver Shadow S. victress Zougotcha (Zoustar).
Catalyst aiming for Melbourne
G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) will head to Melbourne after bad luck with the weather interrupted plans for the 6-year-old to make a return to the track following a two-year absence.
Connections had intended to run in last Saturday’s G2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa, but a Heavy track meant he was withdrawn.
“It has got to a stage where we can’t wait any longer,” said Rick Williams, racing manager to owner Dick Karreman.
Catalyst (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“The only races that are suitable for him here (New Zealand) are the Group 1 weight-for-ages and if it is wet on Saturday-week, he can’t go to a mile (G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate) first-up, so I made the decision before then to put him on a plane.”
Catalyst could be seen as early as this Saturday in the Listed Chautauqua S. at The Valley.
Racing NSW scraps BOBS Mares' Bonus
Effective from September 1, Racing NSW will no longer pay out a BOBS Mares' Bonus. The bonus, which was awarded to mare owners who bred to nominated NSW-based stallions, was intended to encourage in-state breeding.
Racing NSW indicated that the money will be transferred towards the BOBS double up scheme, in which owners can opt to take a voucher worth twice the amount of the usual BOBS Bonus, to be used at sales or towards a covering fee for participating stallions.
A press release from Racing NSW stated: ‘To better encourage breeding of thoroughbreds in NSW, Racing NSW will be allocating these monies to the BOBS double up scheme, which includes the payment of stallion nomination fees.’
BOBS 2022 nominations close on Thursday, September 1.
ATC Board elects new chairman and vice
Elected unanimously, Peter McGauran has been named chairman of the Australian Turf Club. Previously chief executive of Racing Australia, McGauran is an experienced racing administrator.
Having served the maximum four-year term, Matthew McGrath has stepped down from the role.
“The ATC plays a pivotal role in the success of Sydney’s world-class racing in collaboration with stakeholders including its Members, Racing NSW, industry participants and sponsors,” McGauran said.
Peter McGauran
“I am looking forward to working with a strong and talented Board of Directors and Executive team in the interests of the ATC and the New South Wales industry.”
Aside from his positions within the industry, McGauran was for 25 years the Member for Gippsland in the Federal Parliament, and a senior minister in the Howard government.
Tim Hale SC, a current ATC Board Member, was also elected unanimously to the position of Vice-Chairman.
Stakes boost for Auckland
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has announced that minimum stake for all of its meetings has been raised by NZ$5000 to a total of NZ$20,000 for the 2022/23 season.
ATR will be making a contribution of NZ$1.4 million towards stakes, bringing the total on offer for the season at Pukekohe Park to NZ$9.57 million.
The raise in stakes is a mark of success for the Club’s new business model according to Paul Wilcox, ATR chief executive.
“Following last year’s merger and stakes announcement we alluded to the fact that as we continued to implement our new business model, we hoped to be able to announce further stake increases in the future,” Wilcox said.
“I am thus delighted to say the work done over the past year in terms of beginning to bring that model to life – particularly with regards to gains made with our property portfolio - has already started to pay off, and that despite challenges posed by the pandemic, we’re still here today announcing what are sustainable, increased returns to our industry.”
Racing Victoria to standardise deductions
Victorian thoroughbred racing will become the first and only racing code in Australia to introduce a standardised official deductions policy for fixed-odds win or place bets.
From August 30, Racing Victoria (RV) is mandating the use of RV-produced Victorian Official Deduction (VOD) values by all Wagering Service Providers (WSPs) betting on Victorian thoroughbred racing to ensure consistency for punters across the wagering market.
Up until this point, all WSPs have utilised their own calculation methods with the deductions applied varying considerably across different bookmakers.
The new VOD aims to address this point of concern for punters and ensure that no matter where they place their bet, deductions will be fair, highly competitive and consistent.
Champion Juvenile Corniche Retired to Coolmore America
Last year's champion 2-Year-Old Colt, sale-topper and 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for 2023.
Out of the six-time stakes winner and Group 1-placed mare Wasted Tears (USA) (Narjan {USA}), Corniche was purchased for US$1.5 million (AU$2.19 million) by agent Marette Farrell on behalf of Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables LLC following a powerful, 10 second-flat breeze at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale.
He was then turned over to Bob Baffert, and took his Del Mar debut handily last September before stretching out successfully in the G1 American Pharoah S. The bay completed a perfect juvenile campaign back at Del Mar in last November's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Champion 2-Year-Old Corniche (USA) has been retired to stud | Standing at Coolmore America, image courtesy of Coolmore
Transferred to the Todd Pletcher barn for the 2022 season, he reportedly suffered a hind joint injury on his seasonal debut in Saratoga's G2 Amsterdam S. on July 31, prompting his retirement. It was his only defeat.
“It's unfortunate that Corniche has been forced to retire at this point in his career, but he will be revered for his remarkable juvenile season,” said Ashford Stud Manager, Dermot Ryan. “He's a most impressive-looking individual and I can see him proving extremely popular amongst breeders.”
Goodnight Olive springs an upset in the Ballerina
In a field which included three top-flight winners, it was first-time stakes starter Goodnight Olive (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) who came away with the victory in the G1 Ballerina S. at Saratoga on Sunday (local time), a victory which carries an automatic place for the G1 Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares' Sprint.
Sent off at 5-1, the dark bay filly was hustled out of the gate before settling into third as Travel Column (USA) (Frosted {USA}) assumed command at the head of the field. Goodnight Olive rushed up to press the pacesetter after 400 metres, and powered past that rival in the middle of the straight before extending clear to the line.
“They were going a little fast, but she was going the right way,” said winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.
“She was relaxed and in a good spot. I bided my time and waited. Turning for home, she was there for me. She's a nice filly, but she had never faced Grade 1 horses in the afternoon, but she did it today and she showed up.”
