National Defense dies
Widden Stud have reported that shuttle stallion National Defense (GB) has died.
The Group 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) was Champion 2-Year-Old in France following his victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and he was retired to the Irish National Stud at the conclusion of his racing career.
National Defense (GB)
From limited numbers, the stallion had made a good start at stud, siring 12 winners from only 24 Northern Hemisphere-bred and they were headed by Twilight Gleaming (Ire) winner of the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
National Defense - who sired 80 foals in his first season in Australia - is set to be represented by his first Southern Hemisphere-bred winners this season.
Five for McDonald
James McDonald enjoyed a red-letter day at the races, riding five winners at Randwick headed by a G1 George Main S. victory aboard Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}).
The jockey kicked off the day with a victory on board the David Payne-trained Mahagoni (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), before following that up with a win on Zougotcha (Zoustar) in the G2 Tea Rose S.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
After his win on Anamoe, he added to the tally on Nature Strip (Nicconi) in the G2 The Shorts and capped off his day when steering Brigantine (Astern) to victory in the BM88.
Bowman picks up suspension
Jockey Hugh Bowman was handed a hefty 13-day suspension after the stewards deemed he failed to ride out Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in the G2 The Shorts.
Bowman - who finished third on board the John O'Shea-trained gelding - pleaded guilty to the charge and will begin his ban on September 18 and will be allowed to return to the saddle on October 1.
Three for Shamus Award
Shamino’s (Shamus Award) shock win in the Listed WH Wylie H. at Morphettville spearheaded a brilliant day for the Rosemont Stud-based Shamus Award, who was represented by three winners in total.
Shamus Award | Standing at Rosemont Stud
The stallion’s other two winners were Sienna's Award and Tango Tino, who took out their respective events at Gatton and Morven.
Shamus Award is standing for a fee of $88,000 (inc GST).
Treble for Proisir
Rich Hill Stud resident Proisir was also represented by three winners on Saturday.
The stallion’s first winner of the afternoon came at Riccarton when Avaquinella (NZ) proved too much for her rivals in the BM75. The stallion’s other winners were Soldier Boy (NZ) and Tappy’s Lad (NZ), who took out races at New Plymouth Raceway and the Gold Coast respectively.
Proisir, who was represented by a Group 1 winner last weekend when Dark Destroyer (NZ) landed the G1 Tarzino Trophy, stands at a fee of NZ$17,500 plus GST.
Three-timer for Star Witness
Widden Stud resident Star Witness chalked up a three-timer on Saturday and the treble was headed by Mouse Almighty’s victory at Wagga.
Star Witness | Standing at Widden Stud
The stallion was also represented by a winner at Gatton in the shape of Doctor Jack, while another of his sons, Early Plea, saluted the judge at Morven.
Star Witness is standing for a fee of $14,300 (inc GST).
I Am Superman to return to Ireland
Having finished second in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {Ire}) will return to his former trainer Michael O’Callaghan’s stable in his native Ireland.
The son of Footstepsinthesand (Ire) arrived in Australia in 2020 and has won a brace of Group 2s in the country in the G2 Shannon S. and G2 Ajax S.
Mo Donegal to Spendthrift
Donegal Racing and Repole Stable's Mo Donegal (USA), last seen validating favouritism with a three-length victory in the GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets on June 11, has been retired from racing and will enter stud for the 2023 breeding season at Spendthrift Farm. He will command a fee of $20,000, stands and nurses terms.
“It's not often you can offer breeders a Classic winner by an emerging sire of sires, which Uncle Mo appears to be," said Ned Toffey. "On top of that, Mo Donegal is very good-looking, comes from a brilliant and active family, was a 2-year-old graded stakes winner and defeated some of the best from a pretty good crop of 3-year-olds this year. We expect him to be extremely popular, and we invite breeders to come out and see him.”
Smokin’ Romans gains Caulfield Cup entry
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) booked his ticket for the G1 Caulfield Cup when he took out the G3 MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield on Saturday.
The 6-year-old gelding is likely to be joined in the Group 1 by his stablemate Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), who finished third in Saturday’s Group 3 contest.
"Smokin' Romans aim was The Bart Cummings for the prep to get him into the (Melbourne) Cup, but what a great problem to have to switch to the Caulfield Cup," Maher told Racing.com. "He's always been a bit of a quirky horse. At the end of late prep, we sent him down to our beach facility. When he went to a different place, a racetrack, he would lose it a little bit.
Smokin' Romans (NZ) wins the G3 MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
"So, we sent him down there so he would get on and off a truck each morning and we've really seen the benefit of that now. He's trained down at Fingal, the girls have done a fantastic job down there.
"The owners and I have always had high aspirations for him and just looking at the horse, you can tell he was in for a great prep."
Coastwatch to Hong Kong
The former Chris Waller-trained inmate Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) will continue his racing career in Hong Kong after arriving there on Tuesday morning.
The son of Fastnet Rock celebrated his biggest win earlier this year when he took out the G2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.
Coastwatch was sold via the Inglis Digital May (Early) Sale for $500,000 and while the initial reports suggested that he was destined for Macau, he will race on in Hong Kong instead under the care of new local trainer Pierre Ng.
