St Leger card moves to Sunday
The BHA (British Horseracing Authority) has announced that racing on Saturday in Britain has been cancelled out of a mark of respect following the death of The Queen.
The G1 St Leger card at Doncaster, which was due to take place on Saturday, will now go ahead on Sunday and the Group 1, the final Classic of the British season, will headline a nine-race card.
VRC to pay tribute to The Queen
The Victoria Racing Club will pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at their race meeting at Flemington on Saturday.
The Queen, who was a racehorse owner, breeder and racing lover, visited Flemington on three occasions in 1954, 1963 and 1977 while her horse Arabian Story (GB) (Sharrood {USA}) finished sixth in the 1997 G1 Melbourne Cup.
As part of the 1954 Australian Royal Tour, the VRC held a special Royal Race Meeting in February to mark Her Majesty's visit, featuring the Queen Elizabeth S. and Duke of Edinburgh Australian Cup.
VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said he was deeply saddened to learn Her Majesty The Queen had died.
"The VRC has joined the rest of the world in mourning the loss of Her Majesty who was a much-loved and respected leader and a life-long supporter of horse racing," Wilson said.
"On behalf of the VRC, I extend our deepest condolences to His Majesty The King and the entire Royal Family. The Queen had visited Flemington Racecourse as part of three Royal Tours to Melbourne and her knowledge and passion of horse racing was well-known and inspiring. The Queen has left an extraordinary legacy and her contribution and support for our industry has always been greatly appreciated.
“She will remain in our hearts forever."
The Lindsay Park-trained Bold Sniper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was The Queen's first winner in Australia when successful at Sandown and again later at Moonee Valley in 2016.
New Zealand race meetings to honour The Queen
Race meetings in New Zealand will acknowledge Her Majesty The Queen’s passing at its two race meetings on Saturday.
A moment’s silence will be observed at 11.30am NZST at both Ruakaka and Hastings, with jockeys wearing black armbands throughout both meetings as a further mark of respect.
“It is only fitting that New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing commemorates Her Majesty’s love of racing given it is something we have all been able to share with her,” NZTR chief executive Bruce Sharrock said.
“The Queen was the Patron of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, opening their Ellerslie office during her 1990 visit to New Zealand. That interest in our breeding industry has also seen NZTR provide Her Majesty with a special edition of every printing of the New Zealand Stud Book throughout her reign.”
Vulpine added to Inglis Digital Sale
Group 3-winning Snitzel mare Vulpine headlines the Inglis Digital September (Early) Online Sale, which is now open for bidding.
Vulpine landed three stakes races in her career, headed by a victory in last season’s G3 Wenona Girl H. and she will be joined in the catalogue by fellow Group 3-winning race fillies in Monegal (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Felicia (Unencumbered), with the latter holding a nomination to the fully booked Swettenham Stud-based sire Toronado (Ire).
The September (Early) auction comprises 104 racehorses (89 race fillies), 93 broodmares, 49 shares, 20 yearlings, eight fundraiser items and 12 unnamed stock.
Vulpine | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The online sale also includes a fundraiser for injured jockey Elissa Meredith, with eight charity items listed at the top of the catalogue.
Organised by trainer Louise Munce and the NSW Trainers Association, the charity items are a mix of racing, sporting and hospitality packages, with all proceeds from the sale being presented to Meredith, who is recovering from brain contusions following a race fall at Gunnedah on July 4.
The final countdown of bidding for the September (Early) Online Sale begins from midday (AEST) on Wednesday, September 14.
Smart winner for Written Tycoon
Yulong Stud-based sire Written Tycoon was represented by an impressive winner on Friday as his daughter, Estilete, broke through for her maiden victory at Goulburn.
Having the second start of her career, the 3-year-old filly pulled clear in the closing stages to beat Inconsequential (Snitzel) by 3.5l, while Sleigh Queen (Shalaa {Ire}) was 0.8l further afield in third.
Purchased by the Stiletto Sprinters for $250,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Mill Park Stud draft, the filly is out of three-time-winning Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Pasadoble, who is herself a three-quarter sister to G3 Nivison S. winner Diamond Earth (Choisir).
Anamoe cruises in Warwick Farm trial
Four-time Group 1 winner and current G1 Cox Plate favourite Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) was put through his paces at a trial at Warwick Farm on Friday morning.
The James Cummings-trained 4-year-old, who opened his account this season with a victory in the G1 Winx S., looked effortless as he made his way round the 1215-metre trial, eventually finishing third 1.8l behind the Chris Waller-trained pair, Coodarady (Capitalist) and Caboche (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}).
Anamoe is being prepared for a start in Saturday week’s G1 George Main S. at Randwick.
Cummings has faith in Cascadian
James Cummings is confident Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) can add a third Group 1 to his CV when he tackles the G1 Makybe Diva S. at Flemington on Saturday.
"He was really pleased with the horse, he just got squeezed up at the beginning, so the horse was a position or two further back than Blake (Shinn) would have loved to have been," Cummings said.
"He followed I'm Thunderstruck through and claimed third spot in the Memsie and the winner has been snapped up for The Everest, so the race rated well, and the form looks pretty solid coming out of it.
"He's a pretty athletic horse and tends to run pretty good races at Flemington, so I can see him running another good race," Cummings said.
"Hopefully things fall into his lap and the race is there for him to win. He's got the right form line to be one of the main dangers to the favourite."
Roch ‘N’ Horse lines up in Flemington Group 2
The Michael Moroney-trained Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will return to Flemington on Saturday, the scene of her greatest triumph, when she tackles the G2 Bobby Lewis Quality.
The mare resumed last month when fourth in the Listed Carlyon S. at The Valley and trainer Michael Moroney has been pleased with her progress since.
Roch 'N' Horse (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We aimed to get here after having that one run at Moonee Valley where I thought she went terrific,” Moroney told Racing.com.
“She has worked well and looks terrific, so fingers crossed.”
Daisies starts Group 1 campaign
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Daisies (Sebring) will kick off her latest campaign in the G2 Let’s Elope S. at Flemington on Saturday.
Not seen since finishing sixth in the G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville in May, the daughter of Sebring’s main aim this preparation will be the G1 Empire Rose S. on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week.
The stable then plan to back the 4-year-old up in the G2 Matriarch S. at the same track on November 7.
"She's not a good trial horse as we've seen that previously," Kent Jnr said. "She was very good fresh-up at Flemington last prep, albeit in a slightly weaker grade.
"She's going super, had a really good prep and is fit and forward, but I think she'll need a mile and then 2000 metres later on to see her at her best."
Coolmore audition for Bubble Palace
The Daniel Bowman-trained Bubble Palace (Rich Enuff) will be on trial for a potential tilt at the G1 Coolmore Stud S. when she runs in the Listed Cap D'Antibes S. up the straight at Flemington on Saturday.
"The straight's obviously a big question," Bowman told Racing.com.
"It's obviously a bit of a question mark because she hasn't seen it before, but it is what it is, we've got to find out, and I'd rather find out on Saturday than in the Coolmore.
Bubble Palace
"If she handles the straight and if she measures up then yeah, the Coolmore is the goal, we'll find out on Saturday against the fillies anyway.
"She's good, she's had three jump-outs to get ready, she had a really quiet first one then two strong ones, on Heavy ground mind you, which she doesn't like. We're looking forward to Saturday, getting her on some dry ground.
"We're really happy, she's got big improvement still to come, she's not fully wound, still a bit wiry, but she's in as good order as we can have her going to the races first-up."
Award makes comeback
Trainer Chris Calthorpe is confident Group 1 winner Media Award (Shamus Award) will make her presence felt when she takes in the Listed The Sofitel at Flemington on Saturday.
"She's going in there probably 95 per cent, she'll need the run, but we think she'll get out there and be competitive," Calthorpe told Racing.com. "She's very forward, forward enough to be very competitive, we're really happy with the way she's come up.
"She trialled at Geelong in January, and it wasn't up to our expectations and just had a few niggles that were telling us she needed a good break.
"We probably could've run through the autumn, but when you're only 90 per cent right and you have to race at this level, you're only going to be chasing bums home.
"Damien Oliver trialled her at Geelong two weeks ago on the grass and was really happy with her, and then we gave her an exhibition gallop on Sunday, and he was really happy with her action and her attitude."
Churchill sires seventh stakes winner
Coolmore Stud shuttler Churchill (Ire) chalked up his seventh stakes winner as his daughter Blue Rose Cen (Ire) produced an impressive display to win the G3 Prix d'Aumale at Longchamp on Thursday.
The 2-year-old filly surged clear in the final stages to bear Heavenly Breath (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by 1.5l, while Start Me Up (Fr) (Pastorius {Ger}) was a further 0.5l away in third.
Bred and raced by Yeguada Centurion, the filly is out of US Grade 3 winner Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy {USA}).
Churchill is currently covering his fifth book of mares at Coolmore’s Jerrys Plains base in the Hunter Valley and his fee has been set at $22,000 (inc GST).
Stakes double for Dubawi
Darley’s stalwart stallion Dubawi (Ire) sired a double on Thursday, which saw the stallion’s total haul of stakes winners move to 242.
The first leg of the double was provided by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Mimikyu (GB) who landed the G2 Park Hill Fillies’ S. at Doncaster.
Meanwhile, the second stakes winner of the afternoon came across the Channel in France, when the 2-year-old Kubrick (Ire) took out the G3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp.
