Hong Kong door ajar for Durston
A tilt at next month’s Hong Kong International meeting remains an option for Caulfield Cup hero Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), with trainer Chris Waller revealing the 7-year-old is still in work.
Durston was ruled out of the Melbourne Cup four days before the race after an MRI scan showed an area of concern in a hind leg.
“We’re not sure just yet,” Waller told Racing.com.
“His MRI has come back and we’ve got to go through it over the next few days.
“I want to do it the right way. I’d rather go through the integrity team and the stewards, speak to them, speak to Dr (Grace) Forbes and do it all properly and learn from it.
“If he comes through the report well, he’s a chance (to go).”
Royal Ascot an option for Champions Sprint heroine
Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) may follow in the footsteps of the horse she beat in Saturday’s G1 Champions Sprint, Nature Strip (Nicconi), and head to England next year to tackle a race at Royal Ascot.
Nick Smith, the director of racing at Ascot, was at Flemington and immediately asked the question of the mare’s trainer, Mike Moroney.
“We had a word with Nick Smith and he was keen to get us there. That’s something we’ll throw around as an idea,” Moroney told Racing.com.
“She’ll have this season to race and then she will probably go to stud. I think it would depend on what happens in the breeding barn but we’d like to go.”
Options aplenty for Alligator Blood
Champions S. winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) has gone to the paddock for a richly deserved spell as connections mull a host of options for next year.
A trip to Royal Ascot is one possibility, so too is the All-Star Mile.
“Someone said to me on Saturday that he is as tough as a $2 steak, he is unreal,” part-owner Jeff Simpson told News Corp.
“He is a really popular horse, his great name helps that and he still holds the record for the most votes in the All-Star Mile (2020).”
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said majority owner Gerry Harvey was keen to race the horse at home in order to boost the credentials of his sire All Too Hard, who stands at Vinery Stud.
“It’d be great to be racing internationally but ultimately it is Gerry’s call and I get the feeling he’d like to be flying the flag here in Australia,” said Bott.
“There is great prizemoney here, the horse is racing well and it is great that he bred the horse.”
Hitotsu, Marabi back in work
Group 1 winners Hitotsu (Maurice {Jpn}) and Marabi (I Am Invincible) have begun an assault on the 2023 autumn carnival.
Triple Group 1 winner Hitotsu missed the spring after sustaining a suspensory injury in May.
“He’s back cantering and he’ll be under saddle shortly and we’re pretty happy,” co-trainer Ciaron Maher told Racing.com.
“It’s never a good thing to get an injury like that but we’re hoping he can come back in the autumn and compete at the same level he was at.”
G1 Oakleigh Plate victress Marabi has recovered from a bone-chip operation.
“She’s ticking over,” Maher said.
“She has a little way to go. She had some surgery and she’s had a good break.
“She’s stretched again and she’s looking good.”
Bedggood eyes up hometown Cup
Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood would love nothing more than to win his hometown Cup and he could launch a two-pronged attack on the race.
Bedggood will enter in–form stayer Keats (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and talented mare No Effort (Reward For Effort) for Saturday’s $500,000 event.
“He’s (Keats) been a great pick-up,” Bedggood said.
“We’ve also got the Kilmore Cup (November 20) as an option with him.
“I would like to try and split them as they both have similar racing styles, but the hometown Cup for $500,000, I wouldn't mind having two bites at the cherry, instead of only one.”
Forster Chases riches with star sprinter
Queensland trainer Desleigh Forster claims stable star Apache Chase (Better Than Ready) is on target for Saturday’s $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle.
The 5-year-old, who has banked in excess of $2 million in earnings, hasn’t raced since finishing a close ninth in the G3 Sydney S. at Randwick on October 15.
“He races best when he’s nice and fresh,” Forster said.
“He was only beaten a length and a half the other day on an unsuitable track, so he’s going really good.
“We'll take him to Newcastle, 1300 metres, perfect track and then we’ll take him home and get him ready for the King Of The Mountain.”
Boom blows them away
Trainer Tony Gollan and connections of 3-year-old Golden Boom (Spirit Of Boom) may receive some phone calls from Hong Kong this week.
Following two big trial wins, there was plenty of interest surrounding the Gollan-trained gelding ahead of Sunday’s debut at the Sunshine Coast.
And, Golden Boom didn't disappoint, coasting to a 6.3l victory under Ryan Maloney.
Out of the winning Encosta De Lago mare Golden Falls, who is a daughter of the dual Listed winner The Golden Dane (Danehill {USA}), Golden Boom fetched $150,000 from the Element Hill draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selling to Archer Park Racing.
First winner for Inference
The Andrew Bobbin-trained Muddy Puddles handed Chatswood Stud resident Inference his maiden winner on Sunday.
Muddy Puddles proved too good in Race 1 - a 1600-metre maiden - at Ararat.
Inference, who won the G1 Randwick Guineas in 2017, had had just eight runners take to the track.
Money Catcher takes Sha Tin Group 3
Ferlax (NZ) gelding Money Catcher (NZ) outlasted race favourite Beauty Joy (Sebring) in an exciting edition of the G3 The Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse H. at Sha Tin on Sunday. Senor Toba (Toronado {Ire}), who won the 2021 Frank Packer Plate, was third.
The Frankie Lor-trained Money Catcher was ridden to victory by Silvestre De Sousa.
Money Catcher was originally purchased out of Haunui Farm’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale by Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry for NZ$13,000, before going through Regal Farm’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft, where he made NZ$60,000.
The gelding’s dam, Warren’s Sister (NZ) (Savabeel), is an unraced sister to Listed winner Warrentherooster (NZ).
Breakup on top in Tokyo Group 2
Novellist (Ire) 4-year-old Breakup (Jpn) scored a 1l victory in Sunday’s G2 Copa Republica Argentina (2500 metres) in Tokyo.
It was the first stakes victory for the Yoichi Kuroiwa-trained galloper, who was handled by Hironobu Tanabe.
Breakup is from the Kurofune (USA) mare Little Jun (Jpn), the dam of three-time winner Tudor Rose (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S {USA}).
Heart’s Histoire (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) was second, while Heat On Beat (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) ran third.
