Verry Elleegant share passed in
The online auction for a 12.5 per cent share in champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) came to a close on Monday evening, passing in for NZ$350,000. Extrapolation puts her projected value at NZ$2.8 million.
Offered on Gavelhouse Plus, the share was up for grabs after part-owner Tim Barry, an Auckland businessman, decided to offer up his stake in last year’s Melbourne Cup winner due to personal reasons.
Kementari wins Belmont trial
Godolphin’s G1 Winterbottom S.-hope Kementari (Lonhro) was an eye-catching winner of his 1000-metre Belmont trial on Monday morning. Trained by James Cummings, the 8-year-old gelding swept through the field from fifth position to record a 0.34l margin over the Simon Miller-trained Time Scale (Press Statement).
Kementari has run with credit in some of Sydney’s premier sprints this season and, after finishing seventh in The Everest, he was third to Private Eye (Al Maher) in his latest start in the Nature Strip S. (1300 metres).
During his single previous raid on Western Australia, Kementari’s three-run campaign included a mid-division finish in the G1 Railway S. (1600 metres) before he won the G3 AJ Scahill S. (1400 metres).
Invader filly scores at Casterton
Aquis Farm's second-season sire Invader gained a new winner on Monday afternoon when 3-year-old filly Movader scored by 3.25l in a 1200-metre Casterton maiden. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the filly was making her third start a winning one.
Movader is out of Listed Dulcify H. winner Moqueen (Uncle Mo {USA}) and was a $190,000 purchase by her trainers at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Invader now has 13 winners from his first crop and stands at Aquis Farm this year for $22,000 (inc GST).
Doyle hoping for Bliss
Undefeated in seven starts, 5-year-old mare Norwegian Bliss (NZ) (El Roca) will look to make her first start in stakes company a winning one in Saturday’s G3 Kevin Heffernan S. at Caulfield.
Trained by Newcastle-based Nathan Doyle, the mare is owned by Gerry Harvey and was a surprise recruit for her trainer, having struggled with knee trouble and failing to make the track for other trainers.
“He (Gerry Harvey) sent her up and said, 'See if you can get her to the races' and that's what we did,” Doyle told Racing.com.
Norwegian Bliss (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It's my first horse with him. She got passed in at the sales for $25,000 as a yearling. She had some (knee) issues as a young horse, so that's why she didn't race until she was a 4-year-old.”
Having steadily climbed through the grades, Norwegian Bliss will be a first Melbourne starter for Doyle.
“She's very progressive,” he said. “The 1400 metres second-up looks ideal. The 1200 metres first-up was probably a bit short as we think she'll get to a mile in time.”
Warne making debut
Named in honour of the legendary cricketer, 3-year-old gelding Warne (Flying Artie) is set to make his first racecourse appearance at Sandown on Wednesday. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Shane Warne had agreed to race the son of Flying Artie in partnership with his breeders, Newgate Farm, before the star’s untimely death in March.
In a much-anticipated debut, Warne is in a 1200-metre maiden event, with the 3-year-old having taken some time to mature according to Newgate’s Henry Field.
“From all reports he's a horse that is doing quite well,” Field told Racing.com. “He's been a bit of a backward sort of horse but Ciaron and Dave are masters with their different training regimes to have them mentally and physically furnished and it feels like we are at that point now with him.
“I think it's a matter of wait and see on Wednesday, but the feeling is that he will improve on whatever he does.”
Sadler steps out
Former jockey Tom Sadler is excited to begin training in his own right as the 27-year-old and his fiancée, Sarah, take over from Henry Dwyer at St Leonards, on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula.
“I'm really excited to have taken over the lease on the property. It has got everything you need. A great undulating track and you harrow the track and have it as heavy sand or flat down, whichever you need,” Sadler told Racing.com.
“We've also got a treadmill and a recovery beach across the road. Thirteenth Beach, where Danny O'Brien works his horses, is only 20 minutes away.
Tom Sadler | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We are really focusing on building what we can here. We've bought a couple of tried horses that we're happy with.”
A winner of 231 races as a jockey, since retiring in 2020 Sadler has been working alongside his father John, also a trainer, and hopes to send out his first runner in January.
Young Irish jockeys look for Sydney success
Two of Ireland’s most promising young riders are in Sydney for the Northern Hemisphere winter and are basing themselves with top trainers.
Ben Coen is based in Ireland with former Aidan O’Brien number one jockey-turned trainer Johnny Murtagh, a Group 1-winning partnership. Coen, 21 years old, has slotted into Chris Waller’s Sydney stable, and is able to ride from 56kg.
“This opportunity gives me the chance to experience another style of racing,” Coen told Racenet.
“I've never ridden trackwork with times as well so that's an experience and something you can obviously take across to help you when you're race riding.
“Racing in Australia is very tactical so having some experience down here will give me a few more tools in my toolbox.”
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Mikey Sheehy, who this year rode out his apprenticeship in Ireland for Joseph O’Brien, has joined Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s Warwick Farm operation, and will ride from 55kg.
Big Dance-eligible races announced
Racing NSW has confirmed the eligible races for the 2023 $2 million Big Dance (1600 metres), which will be run at Randwick on November 7, 2023.
Restricted to horses who have contested the country cups, this year's feature race was won by Rustic Steel (Deep Field), trained by Kris Lees.
