Nature Strip crowned Australian Horse Of The Year
Nature Strip (Nicconi) has been named the Australian Horse Of The Year for the second time at the Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards, having first been awarded Australian racing’s highest honour in 2019/20.
The award comes off the back of another red-letter season for the sprinter, having taken out The Everest last October and he showed the world his talent when posting an ultra-impressive victory in the G1 King’s S. at Royal Ascot in June.
The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip - who was also crowned Champion Sprinter - is preparing to make his seasonal reappearance in G2 The Shorts at Randwick on September 17 and he will attempt to defend his The Everest crown on October 15.
Meanwhile, Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) was awarded Champion 3-Year-Old colt, G1 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) was crowned Champion Stayer and G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Fireburn (Rebel Dane) was awarded the Champion 2-Year-Old.
Champion Middle Distance award went the way of Annabel Neasham's three-time Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) and fellow Group 1 winner Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) was appointed Champion 3-Year-Old filly.
Pierro chalks up 30th stakes winner
Coolmore Stud resident Pierro was handed his 30th stakes winner on Saturday courtesy of Bonaparte’s victory in the Listed Tattersall's Members Cup at Doomben.
Pierro | Standing at Coolmore Stud
Trained by Stuart Kendrick, the 7-year-old gelding stayed on strongly to beat Snippy Fox (Foxwedge) by 0.4l, while Hasabro (NZ) (Savabeel) was a further 2.5l away in third.
Pierro’s stakes winners are headed by six Group 1 winners and he is standing for a fee of $99,000 (inc GST).
First juvenile blood to Fortuna
Two-year-old racing got underway in New Zealand on Saturday and the Mark Walker-trained Rubicon Crossing - who is by Swettenham Stud’s in-form sire Rubick - got off the mark at the first time of asking with an impressive victory over 800 metres at Wanganui.
Owned by Fortuna and bred by Segenhoe Stud, the filly defeated Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) by 0.2l, while Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) was a further 2.8l away in third.
Purchased by Brian Nutt’s Attunga Bloodstock for $70,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2021, the filly was then snapped up by David Ellis and Fotuna for $120,000 at the Magic Millions National Gold Coast Yearling Sale the following year.
Rocababy breaks through at stakes level
Lightly raced filly Rocababy (NZ) (El Roca) came home strongly to take out the Listed Fillies S. at Wanganui and in the process led home a 1-2 for her Westbury Stud-based sire El Roca, providing the son of Fastnet Rock with his seventh stakes winner.
Trained by Anna Clement, who was celebrating her first stakes race win, the 3-year-old filly hit the line tenaciously to beat Romancing The Moon (NZ) by 0.5l, while Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) was another 0.4l away in third.
Rocababy (NZ) wins the Listed Fillies S. at Wanganui | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“I was a little worried that it might not be wet enough for her, but when the rain came it just suited her perfectly.
“I don’t really know what we will do next with her, I’m really just looking forward to getting her home tonight and celebrating a nice milestone for us.”
Listed maiden win for Sheez Dominant
The Fraser Auret-trained Sheez Dominant (NZ) (Vanbrugh) shed her maiden status when she landed the Listed Wanganui Guineas on Saturday.
The 3-year-old filly galloped clear to defeat Mr Mojo Risin' (NZ) (Deep Field) by an imperious 3l, while Accidental Tourist (NZ) (Telperion) was a further 0.5l away in third.
Auret has Sheez Dominant entered for the G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 12 and will set a programme for her aimed at that blue riband event.
Sheez Dominant (NZ) wins the Listed Wanganui Guineas | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“We’ve got her entered for the 1000 Guineas and it would be fantastic if we could get her there,” he said.
“She is out of a Rip Van Winkle mare and I think with what we have seen and her pedigree then she will be best suited over a mile to 2000 metres.”
Four-timer for Deep Field
Newgate Farm’s Deep Field enjoyed a brilliant day at the races, headed by Aysar’s win in the Listed Chautauqua S. at Moonee Valley, a victory which provided the stallion with his 17th stakes winner.
The stallion was also represented by a winner at Randwick as 4-year-old mare Sneaky Paige added a fourth win to her record in a BM78. Meanwhile, his two other daughters, Kareno and Salazar, landed their respective contests at Emerald and Birdsville.
Jones rides treble at Doomben
Apprentice jockey Angela Jone enjoyed a memorable day at Doomben as she steered three winners to victory at the Queensland track.
The jockey’s treble was provided by Goldeel (Dundeel {NZ}) in the Tattersall's Arcade Plate, while her second win came aboard the Tony Gollan-trained Aussie Nugget (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and her final triumph of the afternoon was provided by Don't Stop’s (Mahisara) win in Race 9 on the card.
Angela Jones | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
"It took me a couple of weeks just to figure the (city) tracks out, but I feel like I'm in a good head space today," Jones told Racenet.
"I am riding against different riders who have been riding these tracks for years, probably longer than I have been alive."
Stakes races next for ‘exciting’ Zouky
Trainer Charlie McBride has said the Listed ‘Bosra Sham’ Fillies’ S. at Newmarket on October 28 is now on the agenda for Zouky (GB) (Zoustar), who added a second win to her record in the British EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Haydock on Friday.
“She’s by Zoustar out of a five-furlong mare and she’s a full sister to Ventura Mist. She’s got a lot of speed and is built like a two year old, she’s not enormous but she’s a nice size and I think she’ll have her eye on the Bosra Sham at Newmarket.
“We’ve had two or three horses run in the Bosra Sham, so we planned like a month ago to maybe end up there at the end of the year with a bit of luck.
“We think she’s as good as most of the horses we’ve had, we’ve had some nice fillies that have run at Listed and Group class and we think she’s well up there – we like her a hell of a lot.”
