Almanzor gains a new stakes winner
Cambridge Stud’s shuttler Almanzor (Fr) gained a new stakes winner in Europe on Monday (local time). In the care of French Champion Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, 2-year-old filly Around Midnight (Fr) won the Listed Criterium de l’Ouest on just her second start.
With his progeny expected to progress as 3-year-olds, Almanzor’s first Southern Hemisphere crop are now in their Classic year, and he narrowly missed out on a top-flight winner in New Zealand last season when Dynastic (NZ) was second in the G1 Sistema S.
Almanzor stands at Cambridge Stud for NZ$50,000 (plus GST) this year.
Caviar denied as favourite
Sent off the odds-on favourite for his debut start, I Am Caviar (I Am Invincible), the sixth foal of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), was beaten into fourth place at Moe on Tuesday.
Having jumped well under the superstar mare’s former jockey Luke Nolen, I Am Caviar sat on the speed to the outside of the eventual winner, Helpmebrutha (Stratum Star), but failed to quicken when asked.
Black Caviar is due to foal a full sibling to I Am Caviar this year.
Ardrossan’s first crop lighting up the trials
It was a second trial win for Waikato Stud’s first-season sire Ardrossan on Tuesday at Tauranga, as the unnamed filly out of Tinker Bell (NZ) (Savabeel) showed a smart turn of foot in Heat 3 over 700 metres for Team Rogerson. It was a quinella for the sire too, as back in second was the unnamed filly out of Dolce Amore (NZ).
Back on August 30, Ardrossan’s first trial runner Codigo (NZ) also came home in front, for the stallion’s former trainer Stephen Marsh.
Ardrossan stands at Waikato Stud for NZ$6000 (plus GST) in 2022.
Melbourne Cup unique in featuring internationals
Tuesday’s first declarations for the G1 Melbourne Cup revealed 10 internationally trained horses amongst a total of 97 acceptors at the first stage.
International entries include the Joseph O’Brien-trained Point King (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), owned by Lloyd Williams and unbeaten in three starts this year including a Listed race most recently, Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Loft (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
There will be no overseas-trained runners in either the G1 Caulfield Cup or the G1 Cox Plate, with international hopefuls El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) being transferred to the stables of Chris Waller and Annabel Neasham respectively, and last year’s Cox Plate winner State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) having retired to stud after an issue was found following an MRI scan by Racing Victoria.
There were 69 acceptors for the Cox Plate, down 10 from last year. These include Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), last year’s runner-up Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), who received a ballot exemption after his victory in last Saturday’s G2 Feehan S.
After disappointing in that race, Maddie Raymond’s Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was a notable omission from the Cox Plate acceptors.
Clark to reunite with Alligator Blood
Whilst the future of Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) was up in the air, Tim Clark was unable to commit to riding the G1 Stradbroke H. winner in last month’s G1 Memsie S., in which the 6-year-old gelding was partnered by Damien Oliver. However, in this Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva S. the pair will be reunited.
"We'd set out this program and Tim was pretty keen to head down to partner him but the timing of the announcements of whether he was or wasn't going to be able to race made it hard for him," co-trainer Adrian Bott told Racenet.
"He was keen to get back on him after his first-up run and he knows the horse really well."
Alligator Blood | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Bott also revealed that he is expecting improvement from the gelding’s last run.
"I know he went into the race pretty firm in the market but we thought he'd take good improvement off that run," he said.
"He had a great winter campaign and won the Stradbroke Handicap second-up under handicap conditions so to go first-up into weight-for-age racing again was a tough ask for him."
Passive Aggressive sent for a spell
Grahame Begg’s lightly raced 4-year-old Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) has been sent for a spell, with the trainer reporting no issues with the mare, only that she had endured a hard winter campaign.
That campaign saw her progress unbeaten last season to finish off with a first stakes victory at her first attempt, in the Listed Creswick S. At her last start, in the G3 Cockram S., she was beaten into fourth, having been sent out the odds-on favourite.
Inspirational Girl to step up
The Danny O’Brien-trained Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) will step up to 2000 metres following her second-place finish in last Saturday’s G2 Feehan S., with the trainer happy with that performance.
“It was a really good resuming stayer's-style run,” O'Brien told Racing.com.
"Probably after she won that race she was looking for the 2000 metres but we stayed at the mile for The All-Star Mile and the Doncaster.
Inspirational Girl (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"But we're going to go straight to the 2000 metres with her this preparation, so she'll be in the Turnbull next start and then third-up she'll go to the Caulfield Cup."
O’Brien also noted that her pedigree gives him confidence that she will stay such trips.
"She's a Reliable Man (mare) out of a Zabeel mare, so we're expecting her to be better suited at 2000 metres and beyond," he said.
Forte takes Grade 1 at Saratoga
Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's Forte (USA) (Violence {USA}), the beaten favourite in the G3 Sanford S. on opening weekend, rebounded with an emphatic victory through the rain drops in the G1 Hopeful S. on closing day at Saratoga on Monday (local time).
Forte was one of 45 yearlings purchased by the partnership of Mike Repole's Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables in a US$16.2-million ($24-million) spending spree at last year's Keeneland September sale. The partnership, with bloodstock agent Jacob West signing the tickets, was the leading buyer at the auction.
Forte is the sixth Grade 1 winner for Violence, who stands at Hill 'N' Dale at Xalapa in Kentucky.
Pure Elation dies during foaling
Go Bloodstock have announced the death of their dual Group 2 winner Pure Elation (I Am Invincible). The 7-year-old mare succumbed to complications during foaling in the UK.
In her final start on the racecourse she won the 2018 G2 Furious S., before a knee injury curtailed her career.
