Zoustar colt breaks the ice
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Zouthur (Zoustar) is a maiden no more, after the 3-year-old broke through at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday under Ben Allen.
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Zouthur was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $200,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The 3-year-old colt is from the G3 Chairman’s S. winner Thurlow (Sebring), and a close relation to Listed winner Three Kings (Sebring).
“We’ve always had a good opinion of him,” Eustace said.
“He had a couple of starts on wet ground which didn't go to plan, so it was good to see him put it all together today (Wednesday).
“He travelled well and had the opportunity to quicken and was strong on the line.”
Zouthur’s win was the first of three for Maher and Eustace, with Vermentino (Extreme Choice) and Saint Of Katowice (Ire) (Elzaam) also scoring.
McDonald praises Kovalica
Champion jockey James McDonald was taken by the performance of 3-year-old Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), who won Race 2 - a 1600-metre BM68 at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Kovalica settled at the back of the field, before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to nail Green Shadows (Menari) on the line, improving his record to two wins from three starts.
“He wasn’t really entitled to win to be fair. That was a tremendous performance,” McDonald said.
“He always felt like he was going to get close, but he dug deep.
“He is above average obviously, and a lovely, improving Waller-horse that is just going through the grades nicely.”
Kovalica was bought for NZ$110,000 by Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Curraghmore draft at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1).
The gelding is from the winning Makfi (GB) mare Vitesse (NZ), who is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 victor The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}).
Racing Victoria takes note of UK whip reform
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) earlier this week announced it will introduce new rules pertaining to the use of the whip, commencing in February 2023.
The BHA is limiting whip use to the backhand position and allowing disqualification for the most serious breaches; however, such disqualifications will not be applied on raceday.
The threshold for whip strikes in British racing remains at seven in flat races and eight in jumps. In Victoria, jockeys are restricted to five strikes before the final 100 metres in non-consecutive strides, while the number of strikes in the last 100 metres is at the discretion of the rider.
Racing Victoria integrity boss Jamie Stier said the governing body was across the changes in the UK.
“We believe the current whip rules ought to be considered for modification, like Britain we support the carrying of the whip,” Stier told Newscorp.
“What we have to be conscious of is these are Australian rules and there needs to be national consideration given to that approach.
“I’m not supportive of disqualification of horses on the premise of penalising persons or negatively impacting persons (trainers and owners) who have played no part in the breach.
“It’s certainly not on the table among any considerations at the moment.”
Three for Waller in Zipping Classic
Australia’s premier trainer, Chris Waller, will launch a three-pronged attack on Saturday’s G2 Zipping Classic at Caulfield.
Waller will be represented by Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Great House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
The Michael Moroney-trained Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) is chasing back-to-back wins in the $750,000 staying feature.
Unplaced Melbourne Cup runner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) will have his first start for Anthony and Sam Freedman, having transferred from Ed and Simon Crisford.
First runner for The Autumn Sun
There has been plenty of hype around Arrowfield Stud resident The Autumn Sun and his first crop, and at Caulfield on Saturday, his first runner will head to the races.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Hydrogen Power will contest the Listed Merson Cooper S.
Hydrogen Power as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt made $280,000 from the Element Hill draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is a son of the winning Encosta De Lago mare Madam Tracy, making him a relation to multiple Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) and 2009/10 Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}).
Patrick Moloney has been tasked with the ride aboard Hydrogen Power, who will jump from gate seven.
Ryan and Alexiou hunt consecutive Festival Stakes triumphs
Group 1-winning training combination Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will be looking to register their second Festival S. success is as many years when Cisco Bay (So You Think {NZ}) lines up in the Group 3 event at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Rosehill training duo won the event 12 months ago with Ellsberg (Spill The Beans), while Ryan also won the race in 2005, when training solo, with Spirit Of Tara (Song Of Tara {Ire}).
Robbie Dolan will ride Cisco Bay, which has 53kg and will jump from barrier two.
“(The longer spell) has given him time to get his act together and probably all his sore spots are gone,” Ryan said.
“He is an 8-year-old looking very well and racing very well.”
One of Cisco Bay’s rivals is topweight Sunshine Rising (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), who makes his local debut for Mark Newnham, after winning at Group 3 level and placing in Group 1 company in Hong Kong.
Cummings confident Paulele can bounce back
Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings doesn’t see barrier 16 as too much of a negative for Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in Saturday’s G1 Winterbottom S. at Ascot.
Following a brilliant win in the G2 Schillaci S., the 4-year-old entire was unplaced in the G1 Manikato S. on a bog track at The Valley, before again missing the top three in the G1 Champions S. at Flemington.
Paulele | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I think we probably had him a little close two ago (in the Manikato) and I don't think he’s a straight horse and he was forced to compete up the straight against Nature Strip and others last start,” Cummings said.
“So, he gets around a bend and if he’s left alone early from the wide draw, which has probably forced our hand and it’s probably what Paulele has been crying out for.”
Ben Melham will ride Paulele, who is searching for his maiden Group 1 victory.
Kiwi raider handed top weight for Jericho Cup
New Zealand visitor Botti (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) will carry 70kg in Sunday’s Jericho Cup at Warrnambool.
The Kevin Myers-trained stayer, who will be ridden by Shaun Fannin, has won three of his past four starts.
Botti began his career with a win at Pukekohe as an autumn 2-year-old, then headed to Australia, where he was a winner at Geelong and placed at both Randwick and Rosehill.
“It would be a great race to win, they are doing a great job over there with the race. It is getting stronger and stronger every year,” Myers said.
The modern-day Jericho Cup, which is the brainchild of philanthropist Bill Gibbins, was established in 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original Jericho Cup run in the desert sands outside Palestine.
McDonald eyes up Group 1 with Star Patrol
Progressive sprinter Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner) will graduate to the elite level in the autumn.
Star Patrol won his first three starts for Clinton McDonald after being transferred from Mark Newnham. He then ran second to Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) in the Listed Creswick S., before finishing third in the G3 The Heath S.
Star Patrol | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Star Patrol is likely to resume in the G2 Rubiton S. on February 11, ahead of a tilt at a maiden Group 1.
“We've got a couple of options with him; whether we go to the Lightning and Newmarket, but I’d say that we're leaning more towards going to the Rubiton, Oakleigh Plate then the Newmarket third-up,” McDonald told RSN927.
Pike locked in for Magic Millions
Group 1-winning jockey William Pike has been confirmed to ride at the Magic Millions Raceday (January 14) for the first time.
“I can’t wait to ride at my first Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting,” Pike told Newscorp.
“I have been a guest of the Gold Coast Turf Club before and I am looking forward to getting back.”
Pike will also ride on the Gold Coast on January 7 - The Wave Raceday.
2023 Shadai roster announced
Epiphaneia (Jpn) heads Shadai’s stallion roster for 2023, with the multiple Grade 1 winner to stand for ¥18,000,000 (AU$192,000) in 2023.
Retired to stud in 2016, Epiphaneia has sired eight stakes winners and these include Grade 1-winning trio; Efforia (Jpn), Daring Tact (Jpn) and Circle Of Life (Jpn).
Epiphaneia (Jpn) | Standing at Shadai Stallion Station
Kizuna (Jpn), Contrail (Jpn) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) will all command a fee of ¥12,000,000 (AU$128,000), while Kitasan Black (Jpn) will stand for ¥10,000,000 (AU$107,000).
Maurice (Jpn) and Satono Aladdin (Jpn), who both shuttle to Australasia, will stand for ¥8,000,000 (AU$85,000) and ¥1,000,000 (AU$11,000) respectively.
Zarak share brings €460K at Arqana Online
Eight stallion shares and five breeding rights were offered at the Arqana Online Sale, and leading the way was a share in the Aga Khan stallion Zarak (Fr), which realised a top price of €460,000 (AU$713,000).
Secured by Marius Cyprès, the share was one of two purchased by the Bridge Consignment, who also went to €56,000 (AU$87,000) for a share in the Haras d’Etreham sire Almanzor (Fr).
Cyprès said: “We’re very happy. To be able to invest in a share in Zarak is a unique opportunity. He’s a stallion that I like a lot. He is magnificent, a son of Dubawi and his dam was a champion too. I think he is one of the young stallions in Europe that has the biggest future ahead of him.”
Also active during the session, Trotting Bloodstock’s Florent Fonteyne purchased a share in Goken (Fr) for €89,000 (AU$138,000) and a breeding right in Goliath Du Berlais (Fr) for €38,000 (AU$59,000).
Forsman after more Group success
In-form trainer Andrew Forsman will look to win another feature race, with 3-year-old Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) sent south to Otaki for Thursday’s G3 Wellington S.
Devastate finished runner-up on debut on the course before a return trip for the Wellington S. came into play following back-to-back successes at Matamata and Tauranga.
Andrew Forsman | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“He’s been great and he just seems to keep improving. He has really thrived since that last run and his work on Tuesday was really good,” Forsman said.
“He has been up a while and I would imagine, assuming everything goes right on Thursday, that he will go to the paddock after Otaki.
“He won’t be out for too long and more of a mental freshen-up for two or three weeks and then get him back.”
