Performer gains first winner
Aquis Farm’s first-season sire Performer gained his first winner on Sunday, courtesy of Mishani Maverick at the Sunshine Coast Poly Track. Trained by Les Ross, the 2-year-old gelding was having just his second start, and comfortably closed down race leader Revitup Charlie (Top Echelon) entering the home straight to register a 1l victory, with Magic Of Millo (The Mission) a further 0.3l away in third.
Mishani Maverick was a $7000 purchase at the 2022 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for Golden Gate Bloodstock. Performer stands this season at Aquis Farm for $6600 (inc GST).
Melbourne Cup down to 34 entrants
Last week’s Geelong Cup winner Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) has (just) made it into the top 24 for next Tuesday’s $8 million G1 Melbourne Cup, however connections of the 6-year-old face a nervous wait ahead of Saturday’s final declarations.
The winner of Saturday’s G3 Archer S., which has 23 nominations, is free from the Cup ballot, as connections of horses outside the top 24 prepare for a last-ditch attempt at gaining a start in the great race.
Realm Of Flowers (So You Think {NZ}) is currently 25th in the order of entry and she is nominated for the Archer S.
No Empire Rose for Imperatriz
A total of 32 nominations for Saturday’s G1 Empire Rose S. were revealed on Monday, but Mark Walker’s stable start Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) was not amongst them.
Having won a qualifying race in the G1 NZ Breeders' S., Imperatriz was eligible for a $1-million bonus, and it will now be left to Andrew Forsman’s She’s Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) and Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) to represent New Zealand.
Seven remaining mares are eligible for the bonus, which would take the total winning prize for the Group 1 to $1.6 million.
Jacquinot primed for Coolmore tilt
Mick Price admits Jacquinot (Rubick) was left slightly jaded following his unplaced, but encouraging run in The Everest.
The G1 Golden Rose S. winner finished fifth, beaten 1.55l on an unsuitable Soft 6 surface.
Price, who co-trains the colt with Michael Kent Jnr, said Jacquinot has recovered and will take his place in Saturday’s $2 million Coolmore Stud S at Flemington.
“He got beaten a length and a half and doesn't like that ground,” Price told News Corp.
“I thought he was brave, he’s a top-of-the-ground horse.
“I galloped him last Tuesday with company, he looked good Saturday morning, took a few days to get over racing and coming back, that’s the sort of horse he is,” Price said.
The stable will also have Grand Impact (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and Bews (I Am Invincible) in the race.
Kah explains Sydney decision
Star jockey Jamie Kah said the opportunity to ride gun mare Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) in the $10 million Golden Eagle is the reason she won’t be riding at Saturday’s Victoria Derby meeting.
With the two meetings clashing, Kah has opted for Sydney.
“It wasn’t an easy decision but I just thought I had a really good chance up in Sydney with (Peter) Moody’s horse,” Kah said.
“You’ve got to go where your trainers want you to go and I didn’t really think I had a good Derby chance so that was the decision that was made.”
Field of eight for Bendigo Cup
Wednesday’s G3 Bendigo Cup has attracted eight runners, with the Chris Waller-trained Crystal Pegasus (GB) (Australia {GB}) to carry the top weight of 58kg.
The 6-year-old, who will jump from barrier five, is currently 22nd in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup.
This year’s G1 Australasian Oaks winner, Glint Of Hope (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), has 55.5kg and gate three, while High Emocean (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), who is equal-32nd in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, will carry 54.5kg off stall four.
The 2400-metre race carries a total purse of $500,000, with $300,000 going to the winner.
Import ride for Williams in Cup
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) will be partnered in the G1 Melbourne Cup by Craig Williams. Still considered a 3-year-old in the Northern Hemisphere, the G1 Epsom Derby runner-up was bought by the trainers in conjunction with Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock at the Goffs London Sale in June for £1.2 million (AU$2.15 million).
Williams will head to Werribee’s international quarantine facility on Tuesday to have his first sit on the horse.
“He is right in form and he is a jockey who puts a lot of thought into whatever he does,” Waterhouse told News Corp.
“He said to me when I rang him on Saturday: ‘I’m all yours from Sunday, you tell me what you want to do with the horse and I’ll be there.’”
Possible fly in for Dettori
The world-famous Frankie Dettori may ride in Sydney this weekend in the $10 million Golden Eagle, pending approval of a recently lodged visa application. Should he make it, he will partner the Chris Waller-trained Welwal (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) in the feature race, a boon for Sydney racing according to the Australian Turf Club’s James Ross.
“I understand his (visa) application has been lodged with the London consulate,” Ross told Racenet.
“We are hoping they can address that within the next 24-48 hours so he can make the trip to Sydney.
“Just having Frankie Dettori and (leading UK rider) Jamie Spencer here on a big day like Golden Eagle Day is tremendous for Sydney racing.”
Peters moves Group 1 winners
Leviathan owner/breeder Bob Peters has transferred two of his stars from Danny O‘Brien to Pakenham-based trainer John Leek Jnr.
Group 1 winners Regal Power (Pierro) and Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) are with John Leek Jnr at Pakenham, having started in Victoria with Danny O’Brien.
They join Picture Perfect (Reset) and Zaratite (Animal Kingdom {USA}), who was sent to Leek Jnr last month.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get horses like these that are still in form,” Leek Jnr told News Corp.
Clark the key to In The Congo, says Gai
Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, believes Tim Clark can bring the best out in Golden eagle contender In The Congo (Snitzel).
The 4-year-old entire hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since taking out last year’s G1 Golden Rose S. when piloted by Clark.
“Tim’s ride on In The Congo in the Golden Rose was nothing short of magical,” Waterhouse told News Corp.
“No one else would have won that race. Tim has a ‘clock' in his head, he is brilliant on front-runners.”
Patton becomes a trainer
Group 1-winning former jockey, Jason Patton is set to train a small team of horses on the Gold Coast.
Patton won the G1 Oakleigh Plate in 1994 aboard Kenvain (Kenmare {Fr}) and retired in 2009.
He will team up with former jockey, Ernie Marchant, and his wife Gaye Gauci-Marchant, but the licence will be in his name.
Patton said the Gold Coast Turf Club had granted him six boxes and he was just waiting on Racing Queensland stewards to grant him his licence, which he said should happen shortly.
“I can’t wait to be involved with them as they’ve got a lot of knowledge coming from Caulfield having worked with John Sadler and Mick Kent and also having trained overseas,” Patton told Racing.com.
“I’m so excited about it. I can’t wait. We’ll run it hands-on.”
Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale gets underway
Buyers were braving the elements on a day made for ducks on the eve of this sale at Tattersalls’ sale complex in Newmarket on Sunday (local).
Graduates Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) and Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) have amassed four wins at the highest level in Australia between themselves while Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}) paid another compliment to the sale at Newmarket by winning a Group 2 in America just last month.
Both horses are just the types to drive foreign interest, of which there was a strong presence on Sunday, particularly with Middle Eastern buyers out in force. All told, a whopping 1189 horses will go through the ring at Tattersalls this week, with selling getting underway at 9.30am on Monday (local) (7.30pm AEDT).
Manduro's Iresine Dominates G1 Prix Royal-Oak Rivals
On Sunday (local) in France, the G1 Prix Royal-Oak was won by Jean-Pierre Gauvin trainee Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}).
The 5-year-old gelding registered a career-best by clear water with a display of force in the latter stages of the 3100-metre stamina test. The crowd's 21-10 choice employed patient tactics from the outset and raced off the tempo in ninth, with just one rival in the rear-view mirror, until well beyond halfway.
Taking closer order inside the last half-mile (800 metres), he made relentless headway under pressure in the home straight to lead with 300 metres remaining and surged clear of the valiant Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was making her final career start, in uncompromising fashion for a 3l triumph.
Fasig-Tipton October brings curtain down on yearling sales season
In the US, Fasig-Tipton, which hosted the opening event of the season with its July Selected Yearlings Sale, will bring the curtain down on the yearlings auction season with its four-day Kentucky October Yearlings Sale.
Beginning on Monday (local) at the company's Newtown Paddocks, the Sale continues through to Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10am (local).
The 2021 version of the sale set new records for gross, average and median, and consignors are hoping this year's edition continues a string of strong results this season.
New CEO of Racing SA
Racing SA has appointed Vaughn Lynch as its new Chief Executive Officer, an experienced racing administrator.
Vaughn joined the organisation in 2019, and most recently held the role of Chief Operating Officer. In a statement, Chairman Rob Rorrison commented:
“We are delighted that Vaughn has accepted the role.
“He has been a key part of our management team and integral to our business restructure over the past three years. He understands the landscape and gives us critical continuity of leadership as we tackle the relevant opportunities and problems in front of us.
Vaughn officially commences in the role on November 1, enabling a generous handover period with outgoing CEO Nick Redin who leaves on November 25.
Commenting on his appointment, Vaughn said: “The past few years have been a period of achievement for Racing SA with prizemoney growth, increases in average field sizes, significant infrastructure investment and improvements in welfare, education and training.”