Without A Fight joins the Freedmans
Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who finished 13th in G1 Melbourne Cup for co-trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, will stay in Australia and head into training with Anthony and Sam Freedman.
The son of Teofilo (Ire) has won seven times in his career and they are headed by three stakes wins, including the G3 Silver Cup.
Regally bred daughter of Snitzel wins trial
Well-bred filly Excess (Snitzel) made an impression on her first public outing in an 800-metre Warwick Farm trial on Friday.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the 2-year-old showed good natural speed to beat Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) by 0.38l.
Bred and retained to race by Corumbene Stud, Excess is out of 2013 G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel) making her a half-sister to Group 3 winner Lofty Strike.
Trial winner for So You Think
Coolmore Stud’s So You Think (NZ) also had a juvenile trial winner at Warwick Farm on Friday morning in the shape of 2-year-old colt Greyt Thinker.
Trained by Gary Portelli, the colt pulled clear in the final stages to beat Denman Star (Denman) by 1.2l, clocking a time of 47.37s for the 800-metre trial.
The colt was purchased by his owner Darby Racing for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Portelli was represented by another two 2-year-old trial winners, with Tango Fever (More Than Ready {USA}) and Sense Of Humour (Pariah), who is also raced by Darby, landing their respective 800-metre trials.
Mia Diva headlines latest Inglis Digital sale
The November (Early) catalogue of 187 entries features stakes winners, quality relations to stakes winners, countless breeding prospects and proven lightly raced racehorses with bright futures.
The catalogue is made up of 132 racehorses, including 78 race fillies, 30 broodmares, 12 racehorse shares, 11 yearlings and two non-race-educated 2-year-olds.
One of the standout entries is Exceed And Excel mare Mia Diva (GB), who will be offered in foal to Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Jpn) with a Frosted (USA) colt foal at foot.
The final countdown of bidding begins at 12pm AEST Wednesday, November 9.
Bowman to ride in Hong Kong
Hugh Bowman has been granted a licence to ride in Hong Kong, with his tenure in the jurisdiction will begin on November 13 and finishing on February 12, 2023.
Bowman has enjoyed success in Hong Kong already, including winning the G1 QEII Cup, G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, on Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) as well as the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on Lucky Bubbles (Sebring).
Snitzel chosen as next Winx cover
Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Sntizel has been chosen as Winx’s (Street Cry {Ire}) next covering sire.
Winx’s official Twitter handle announced on Friday that Winx would soon go to the Arrowfield Stud’s champion stallion following the birth of her first live foal by Pierro last month.
Cascadian ready to fly in Champions Mile
The Champions Mile has undergone a transformation that just may give Godolphin galloper Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) his chance to finally win a feature Group 1 1600-metre race at Flemington.
Previously a handicap and known as the G1 Cantala S. and run on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the race has been rebadged as the G1 Champions Mile, shifted to the final day of the carnival and run under weight-for-age conditions.
But with the change to weight-for-age, trainer James Cummings said the race was made to order for Cascadian.
“This year it's been changed from a handicap to weight for age and it's a cracking field,” Cummings said. “There's great depth and interest, it's probably only lacking a 3-year-old in the race to give it some extra appeal.
“Now at weight for age, it's tailor-made for Cascadian because he's already a Doncaster winner and an All Aged Stakes winner. He's got that high rating that would scare me off running him in the race if it was a handicap. Now he's meeting these horses at set weights, he's flying.”
Nipotina the forgotten horse?
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher is confident Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) deserves her place in Saturday’s G1 Champions Sprint at Flemington.
Bella Nipotina, who demolished her rivals in the G1 Manikato S., has never won down the Flemington straight; she did run third behind Nature Strip (Nicconi) in last year’s G1 VRC Sprint Classic.
“I think Bella is in career-best form,” Maher said. “That was obvious last start, I suppose, but she did a piece of work here (Cranbourne) on Tuesday and she’s just in really good order.
“There’s that age-old saying about mares in form, and she was very sassy when I was putting the saddle on her at Moonee Valley. She’s a fiery red-head and when she’s like that, she’s at her best. I think she may have even come on (from the Manikato).”
I’m Thunderstruck ready to roll in Champions Stakes
Despite I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) being beaten by Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) on two previous occasions, co-trainer Mick Price is happy to throw the dice once again on Saturday in the G1 Champions S. at Flemington.
Both times they have met, I'm Thunderstruck has been the hunter and Price said that was likely to be the case again on Saturday.
“Once again, Anamoe is drawn to be one-out, one-back and we've drawn to be out the back,” Price said.
“So, what do we do there?
“I think we balance up and chase hard as usual. There's not much more we can do about it. He's in fine form and it will be a good race.”
Sioux Nation filly popular at Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale
The two-day Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale concluded on Thursday with a filly by Sioux Nation (USA) heading the final session at €72,000 (AU$110,800).
Consigned by Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud, Lot 663 is a granddaughter of the G3 Prix du Bois winner Ela Merici (Fr) (Beaudelaire {Fr}) and was bought by the father-and-son team of Con and Neil Sands of Bronson Racing. The filly will be trained by Joseph O'Brien, who currently trains Bronson Racing's 92-rated winning juvenile Goa Gajah (Bay A Bali {Brz}).
Thursday's trade resulted in 199 sold (76 per cent) from 263 offered for a gross of €1,863,000 (AU$2,866,700). The average was €9362 (-30 per cent) (AU$14,400) and the median was €5500 (-45 per cent) (AU$8500) Overall, 394 yearlings (77 per cent) sold from 512 offered for a gross of €3,705,400 (AU$5,701,800). The average was €9405 (-33 per cent) (AU$14,500) and the median dropped to €5500 (-39 per cent) (AU$8500), but it should be noted that the 2021 edition of the sale included a dispersal from Derrinstown Stud following the death of Shadwell's Sheikh Hamdan.
